Surveillance for naturally acquired leprosy in a nine-banded armadillo population.
Samples from 77 nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) inhabiting a 16.7 km portion of the East Atchafalaya River Levee, Point Coupee Parish, Louisiana, were serologically tested and/or histopathologically examined for evidence of naturally acquired leprosy. Five of 67 (7.5%) armadillos tested sero-positive with ELISA test for IGM class antibodies to the phenolic-glycolipid-1 antigen of Mycobacterium leprae. One of 74 (1.3%) was histopathologically positive as determined by presence of acid-fast bacteria in nerves.
Stallknecht
D E
DE
Truman
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RW
Hugh-Jones
M E
ME
Job
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CK
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001135:Armadillos; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008145:Louisiana; D008297:Male; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology; D004490:Xenarthra
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial