inlected cattle. 8 LEPROSY Definition - A chronic intectious disease caused by Mycobaterium lepae with a pretctilaclion for cooler. superficial region

inlected cattle. 8 LEPROSY Definition - A chronic intectious disease caused by Mycobaterium lepae with a pretctilaclion for cooler. superficial regions of the body, namely skin, mucous mambrane. and paripheral nerves Clinical manifesteation depend upon the host's cellular responses to the infecting organism Patenis with low resfetance develop generalised infection termed lepromatous leprosy, whereas those wilh high reslstance develop tuberculoid leprosy, with the disease localised to skin and peripheral nerve Intermediae torms are known as 'borderline' Epidemiology - Organism - M leprae. a slowly multiplying organism which has been grown in the footpads of mice and in the armadllo Mode of infection -With the rare exception of leprosy caused by direct implantation of organisrrs into the skin (taloo or hypoderrnic needle), inhalatin is the most probable mode of infection since bacilli ara ahed In large numbers from the upper respiratory iract of lepromatous patients who form the main reservoir of infection Proof of high degree of resistance to leprosy among adults are the low Incidence of infaction acquired from a marriage partner and the lailure of alternpts to Infect volunieera. Vast majority of infections are acquired in childhood. Congenital transmission does not occur. Incubation period 2 Io 7 years Clinical features - Indeterminate lesion -The earliest manilesiation of leprosy Is a small slightly hyperpigrrented macule occurrinng anyvvhere on the body Majority of these lesions heal spontaneously Determinate lesions - that cause clinical ctsease may arise spontaneously or out of