02821nas a2200349   4500000000100000008004100001260001000042653001700052653001200069653002600081100001300107700001300120700001200133700001500145700001400160700001700174700001300191700001200204700001300216700001100229700001600240700001200256700001100268700001200279700001400291245011000305856005200415300000900467490000700476520197400483022001402457       2025                            d  bLepra10aTransmission10aleprosy10aMycobacterium leprae 1 aHasker E1 aCambau E1 aGeluk A1 ade Jong BC1 aBarreto J1 avan Brakel W1 aMieras L1 aBlok DJ1 aModali S1 aDeps P1 aSrikantam A1 aGiné A1 aQuao B1 aOraga J1 aVollset M00aInterrupting transmission of Mycobacterium leprae: synthesis of new evidence and research recommendations  uhttps://leprosyreview.org/article/96/2/20-25034  a1-280 v963 a<p>On May 23–25, 2024, a multidisciplinary expert group met in Bergen, Norway, the site of the first description of&nbsp;Mycobacterium leprae&nbsp;(M.&nbsp;leprae) in 1873, to discuss advancements and remaining knowledge gaps in the transmission of&nbsp;M.&nbsp;leprae&nbsp;at the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy Zero Transmission Symposium. Research and operational approaches to interruption of transmission were identified; the research approaches from the symposium are described here.</p>

<p>Updates since a previous symposium at the National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston (USA), in 2014 from these fields of research are presented here: epidemiology; microbiological diagnosis; immunodiagnostics; genotyping; geospatial mapping; leprosy elimination monitoring and transmission under low-endemic circumstances; leprosy post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP); modelling relevant to interruption of transmission of&nbsp;M.&nbsp;leprae; OneHealth; environmental transmission of&nbsp;M.&nbsp;leprae; social determinants; control programmes relevant to interruption of transmission of&nbsp;M.&nbsp;leprae; and organizations of persons affected. Progress and outstanding gaps since 2014 are identified, and recommendations for relevant research in these areas to achieve interruption of transmission are presented. These include research into human reservoirs, including platforms for field-friendly diagnostics; routes of entry/exit of&nbsp;M.&nbsp;leprae; the roles of animals or vectors in transmission; the role of social determinants in transmission; host-pathogen interactions; transmission networks; and enhanced epidemiological data.</p>

<p>Fulfilment of these research recommendations and further understanding of which settings require intensified control efforts, will help to advance the aim of achieving complete interruption of transmission of&nbsp;M.&nbsp;leprae&nbsp;and the elimination of leprosy disease.</p>
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