Discovery. Mycobacterium leprae was discovered in 1873 by the Norwegian physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen (1841–1912), and was the first bacterium to be identified as a cause of disease in humans. It was confirmed to be a bacterium by Albert Ludwig Sigesmund Neisser who argued with Hansen over priority for the discovery
leprae is an obligate aerobe and microaerophilic bacterium. It can grow and divide itself inside macrophages and Schwann cells, and it can be found in the cytoplasm of monocytes, in giant cells, in endothelial cells, and in neutrophils. Among mycobacteria, M. leprae is the only one which infects peripheral nerves.
M. leprae is an obligate aerobe and microaerophilic bacterium. It can grow and divide itself inside macrophages and Schwann cells, and it can be found in the cytoplasm of monocytes, in giant cells, in endothelial cells, and in neutrophils. Among mycobacteria, M.
M. leprae is an obligate intracellular organism and the taxonomic classification of this bacillus comprises the class Schizomycetes, order Actinomycetales, family Mycobacteriaceae, and genus Mycobacterium [17,18]. The bacteria are slightly curved, and measure 1–8 μm in length and 0.3–0.5 μm in diameter.
Mycobacterium leprae is the aetiologic agent of leprosy affecting the skin and peripheral nerves. The infection is currently found in over 100 countries often located in high-burden areas against a low-burden background of cases. Clinical manifestations are varied and reflect the host's immune response to the bacteria.
Mycobacterium leprae is a species of acid fast bacillus, obligate intracellular, aerobic bacteria, which primarily causes leprosy, a chronic and disfiguring skin disease.
Mycobacterium leprae is the etiologic agent of leprosy, a chronic but curable human disease affecting the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes and mucosa of the upper PseudogenesTransmission & strain typingPhylogeographical inferences
Overview. Leprosy is an age-old disease and is described in the literature of ancient civilizations. It is a chronic infectious disease which is caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. The disease affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes.