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Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology
Medknow Publications on behalf of The Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL)
ISSN: 0378-6323 EISSN: 0378-6323
Vol. 71, No. 4, 2005, pp. 267-269
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Bioline Code: dv05088
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Vol. 71, No. 4, 2005, pp. 267-269
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Case Reports - Presence of Mycobacterium leprae in epidermal cells of lepromatous skin and its significance
Satapathy Jasmita, Kar BikashRanjan, Job C.K.
Abstract
A 49-year-old man with lepromatous leprosy treated with dapsone monotherapy for 12 years (1967 to 1979) reported in the hospital in 2003, with relapsed disease. A slit skin smear showed a bacteriological index of 4+. Biopsies from skin lesions before and after anti-leprosy therapy showed features of lepromatous leprosy. Both biopsies showed unusual features of bacillary clumps in epidermal cells demonstrating clearly that dissemination of M. leprae can take place even through unbroken skin. The presence of lepra bacilli in clumps in the epidermis is an indicator that the skin is a potential route of transmission of the disease.
Keywords
M. leprae , Epidermis, Transmission
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© Copyright 2005 Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. Alternative site location: http://www.ijdvl.com
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