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Genetics of Leprosy

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease of man which is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It is mainly a disease of the skin and the peripheral nerves although, in some cases, M. leprae can be found in large numbers in other tissues. Presently, it is estimated that about 15 million people are affected by the disease, mainly in developing countries of the Third World. Clinically, a number of different forms of leprosy can be distinguished. Indeterminate leprosy is probably the earliest sign of infection. Only few, slightly hypopigmented skin plaques are seen and bacilli are detected only rarely in these lesions. Many of those affected by indeterminate leprosy resolve the infection without treatment and, like subclinically infected contacts, are considered as innately resistant to leprosy, thus defining the limits of resistance and susceptibility to clinically evident infection. Tuberculoid leprosy is characterized by the presence of few, hypopigmented skin lesions involving differing degrees of anesthesia.