Molecular origin of endemic leprosy in New York City.
We report an indigenous case of leprosy in New York City in an immunocompetent patient who was infected with a Mycobacterium leprae genotype that is consistent with an exogenous origin. Physicians in the eastern United States should be alerted that, although most patients who develop leprosy in the United States are foreign born, native-born Americans are also susceptible to the infection.
Keo
Thormika
T
New York Hansen's Disease Program, Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, USA.
Martiniuk
Frank
F
Latkowski
JoAnn
J
Cabrera
Aloys
A
Rom
William
W
Levis
William R
WR
D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial