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Vaccines: A vaccine against tuberculosis has been available since early in the twentieth century. It is produced from bacilli Calmette-Guerin (BCG), an attenuated strain of M.bovis. when injected intradermally, it can confer tuberculin hypersensitivity & an enhanced ability to activate macrophages that kill pathogen. Mycobacterium leprae Humans are the natural hosts, although the armadillo may also be a reservoir for human infection. The optimal temperature for growth (30 ْC) is lower than body temperature; It therefore grows preferentially in the skin & superficial nerves. It grows very slowly with a doubling time of 14 days. This makes it the slowest growing human bacterial pathogen. One consequence of this is that antibiotic therapy must be continued for a long time, usually several years. Transmission: Infection is acquired by prolonged contact with patients with lepromatous leprosy, who discharge M.leprae in large numbers in nasal secretions & from skin lesions. The disease occurs world wide, with most cases in the tropical areas of Asia & Africa. Pathogenesis: The organism replicates intracellularly, typically within skin histiocytes, endothelial cells, & Schwann cells of nerve. There are two distinct forms of leprosy – tuberculoid & lepromatous- with several intermediate forms between the two extremes (table1). 1) In tuberculoid leprosy, the cell-mediated immune response to the organism limits its growth, very few acid-fast bacilli are seen, granulomas containing gaint cells form, & the lepromin skin test result is positive. The lepromin skin test is similar to the tuberculin test. An extract of M.leprae is injected intradermally, & induration is observed 48hrs later in those in whom a cell-mediated immune response against the organism exists. 2) In lepromatous leprosy, the cell mediated response to the organism is poor, the skin & mucous membrane lesions contain large numbers of organisms, foamy histocytes rather than granulomas are found, & the lepromin skin test result is negative. Clinical significance: In tuberculoid leprosy, the lesions occur as large maculae (spots) in coolar body tissues such as skin (especially the nose, outer ears, & testicles), & in superficial nerve endings. Neuritis leads to patches of anesthesia in the skin. The lesions are heavily infiltrated by lymphocytes & giant & epitheliod cells, but caseation does not occur. The patient mounts a strong cell mediated immune response & develops delayed hypersensitivity. The course of lepromatous leprosy is slow but progressive. Large numbers of organisms are present in the lesions & reticuloendothelial system, & immunity is severely depressed. Table-1 Comparison of tuberculoid & lepromatous leprosy feature Type of lesion Tubercloid leprosy Few lesion with little tissue destruction Lepromatous leprosy Many lesions with tissue destruction No. of acid-fast bacilli Likelihood Few of Low Many High transmitting leprosy Cell mediated response Present Reduced or absent to M.leprae Lepromin skin test Positive negative Lab identification: M.leprae is an acid fast bacillus. It has not been successfully maintained in artificial culture, but can be grown in the footpads of mice & in the armadillo, which may also be a natural host although playing no role inhuman disease. Laboratory diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy, where organisms are numerous, involves acid fast stains of specimens from nasal mucosa or other infected area. In tuberculoid leprosy, organisms are extremely rare, & dignosis depends on clinical findings & the histology of biopsy material. Treatment: Several drugs are effective in the treatment of leprosy, including sulfones such as dapsone, refampin, & clofazamine. Treatment is prolonged, & combined therapy is necessary to ensure the suppression of resistant mutants. Treatment is given for at least 2 years or until the lesions are free of organisms.