Discharge of M. leprae in milk of leprosy patients.
A quantitative estimation of discharge of M. leprae in the milk of 39 leprosy female patients has been made. Twelve of the 39 patients (10 LL/BL and 1 each of T/BT and BB) showed bacilli in their milk. Only one of these patients was on treatment. AFB count in 10 ml of milk was found to range from 4.3 X 10(4) to 4.3 X 10(5). Significance of discharge of such a large number of bacilli in breast milk is discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000382:microbiology*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000382:microbiology*; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000302:isolation & purification*