01199nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001200055653001500067653002300082653002700105653001100132653001100143653002500154653000900179100001100188245004800199300001100247490000700258520069000265022001400955       2003                            d  c2003 Oct10aAnimals10aArmadillos10aBacterial Vaccines10aDisease Models, Animal10aFemale10aHumans10aLeprosy, lepromatous10aMale1 aJob CK00aNine-banded armadillo and leprosy research.  a541-500 v463 a<p>In this presentation an attempt has been made to describe the nine-banded armadillo as an animal model, probably the only one in which lepromatous leprosy similar to that found in humans can be experimentally produced. Some unique features of the physiology of the animal are mentioned. The pathology and the microbiology of leprosy in the armadillo are described in detail. The discovery of lepromatous leprosy in the wild armadillos in the southern parts of United States, the transmission of disease among them through trauma and thorn pricks and the pathogenesis of the disease are presented. The impact of leprosy in the wild animals may have on human leprosy is discussed.</p>  a0377-4929