Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Tuberculoid leprosy diagnosed in Florida man who had trapped armadillos for researchers 30 yrs ago

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Tuberculoid leprosy diagnosed in Florida man who had trapped armadillos for researchers 30 yrs ago

    Note that none of the usual leprosy tests were positive and the latency period is longer than expected.

    Leprosy is a chronic infectious, granulomatous disease caused by the intracellular bacillus Mycobacterium leprae that infects macrophages and Schwann cells. While relatively rare in the USA, there is about 200 new cases of leprosy every year with the majority occurring in the southern parts of the country. It is believed to be linked to the region of the nine-banned armadillo in patients with no significant travel history outside of the country. In this case report, we encountered a 58-year-old Central Florida man that had extensive exposure to armadillos and presented with the typical symptoms of large erythaematous patches, numbness and peripheral nerve hypertrophy. Once diagnosed properly, patients are then reported to the National Hansen’s Centre who provides the multidrug therapy for 12–24 months. Due to its rarity and its ability to mimic other more common ailments, leprosy should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients that have significant exposure to armadillos, live in the southern part of the country or have recently travelled to countries that have a high prevalence of leprosy.

    Logas CM, Holloway KB
    Cutaneous leprosy in Central Florida man with significant armadillo exposure
    BMJ Case Reports CP 2019;12:e229287.

    Abstract

    Leprosy is a chronic infectious, granulomatous disease caused by the intracellular bacillus Mycobacterium leprae that infects macrophages and Schwann cells. While relatively rare in the USA, there is about 200 new cases of leprosy every year with the majority occurring in the southern parts of the country. It is believed to be linked to the region of the nine-banned armadillo in patients with no significant travel history outside of the country. In this case report, we encountered a 58-year-old Central Florida man that had extensive exposure to armadillos and presented with the typical symptoms of large erythaematous patches, numbness and peripheral nerve hypertrophy. Once diagnosed properly, patients are then reported to the National Hansen’s Centre who provides the multidrug therapy for 12–24 months. Due to its rarity and its ability to mimic other more common ailments, leprosy should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients that have significant exposure to armadillos, live in the southern part of the country or have recently travelled to countries that have a high prevalence of leprosy.

    View Full Text
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2019-229287
    From full text:
    On further history,
    it was discovered that the patient used to trap and
    sell armadillos for leprosy research approximately
    30 years ago.
    Despite the negative AFB culture
    and negative PCR for M. leprae, based on the highly
    suggestive pathology and clinical presentation
    including the nerve hypertrophy and anaesthesia
    of the lesion and after discussion with experts at
    the National Hansens Center, the patient was diagnosed
    clinically with tuberculoid leprosy.
    _____________________________________________

    Ask Congress to Investigate COVID Origins and Government Response to Pandemic.

    i love myself. the quietest. simplest. most powerful. revolution ever. ---- nayyirah waheed

    "...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party

    (My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.)
    Never forget Excalibur.
Working...
X