Open AccessThe epidemiology of mycobacterium leprae : Recent insight
Author(s) -
Beers Stella M.,
Wit Madeleine Y.L.,
Klatser Paul R.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1996.tb08053.x
Subject(s) - mycobacterium leprae , leprosy , organism , epidemiology , disease , biology , transmission (telecommunications) , molecular epidemiology , microbiology and biotechnology , host (biology) , immunology , medicine , pathology , genetics , gene , genotype , electrical engineering , engineering
Leprosy is still a health problem in many countries. Because the causative organism, Mycobacterium leprae cannot be cultured in vitro, it is virtually impossible to assess exposure, and the onset of infection and disease. As a consequence, the chain of infection, considered as the relationships between M. leprae , transmission and human host, is poorly understood. Here, we discuss a number of organism‐, host‐ and environmental‐related factors which may be incriminated in the dynamic process of the development of leprosy disease. The use of modern molecular and immunological tools has become a valuable addition to epidemiological research. Understanding of the epidemiology of leprosy is a prerequisite for effective control of the disease.