01606nas a2200361   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001600055653001200071653001400083653002800097653002700125653001600152653001200168653001500180653001600195653001600211653002000227653002500247653001600272653001100288653001700299653001400316100001600330700001400346700001500360700001300375245008100388300001100469490000800480520074200488022001401230       1975                            d  c1975 Apr10aAge Factors10aAnimals10aBasophils10aBlood Chemical Analysis10aDisease Models, Animal10aHistiocytes10aleprosy10aLeukocytes10aLymph Nodes10aLymphocytes10aLymphoid Tissue10aMycobacterium leprae10aNeutrophils10aSpleen10aThymus Gland10aXenarthra1 aPurtilo D T1 aWalsh G P1 aStorrs E E1 aGannon C00aThe immune system of the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus, Linn).  a725-330 v1813 a<p>The armadillo is rapidly emerging as an animal for biomedical research. A morphological study of the immune system of the armadillo was undertaken to try to demonstrate a possible defect in the morphogenesis of the lymphoid organs that could account for their susceptibility to leprosy. Blood from 20 domesticated adult armadillos revealed lymphocytes predominated among circulating leukocytes in the majority of animals, whereas in wild animals neutrophils predominated. Necropsies revealed well-developed thymus glands and the thymus-dependent areas in lymph nodes and spleens contained abundant lymphoid cells. Hence, we conclude that the susceptibility of the armadillo to leprosy cannot be explained on a morphological basis.</p>  a0003-276X