01431nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653001200065653001500077653002000092653001100112653001200123653001400135653001600149653001400165100001500179700001800194700001500212245008200227300001000309490000700319520082500326022001401151       1977                            d  c1977 Jan10aAdult10aAnimals10aArmadillos10aDisease Vectors10aHumans10aleprosy10aLouisiana10aMiddle Aged10aXenarthra1 aFilice G A1 aGreenberg R N1 aFraser D W00aLack of observed association between armadillo contact and leprosy in humans.  a137-90 v263 a<p>In 1971 it was discovered that the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) could be infected in the laboratory with Mycobacterium leprae, and would manifest disease similar to the lepromatous form of leprosy in man. In 1975 several wild armadillos captured in Louisiana were found to have a disease identical to the M. laprae infection in laboratory animals. To determine if there is a significant association between contact with armadillos and presence of leprosy in humans, the armadillo contact of persons with indigenous leprosy in Louisiana was compared to the contact of matched controls. No difference in the nature or frequency of contact was found. If this infection of wild armadillos is of recent onset, an association with human leprosy in enzootic areas may not be detectable for several years.</p>  a0002-9637