01195nas a2200193   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653001100058653001200069653002500081100001400106700001200120700001600132245006200148300001100210490000800221520075800229022001400987       1996                            d  c1996 Mar 0110aHumans10aleprosy10aMycobacterium leprae1 aBeers S M1 aWit M Y1 aKlatser P R00aThe epidemiology of Mycobacterium leprae: recent insight.  a221-300 v1363 a<p>Leprosy is still a health problem in many countries. Because the causative organism, Mycobacterium leprae cannot be cultured in vitro, it is virtually impossible to assess exposure, and the onset of infection and disease. As a consequence, the chain of infection, considered as the relationships between M. leprae, transmission and human host, is poorly understood. Here, we discuss a number of organism-, host- and environmental-related factors which may be incriminated in the dynamic process of the development of leprosy disease. The use of modern molecular and immunological tools has become a valuable addition to epidemiological research. Understanding of the epidemiology of leprosy is a prerequisite for effective control of the disease.</p>  a0378-1097