Genotyping analysis of Mycobacterium leprae isolated in water environment of leprosy endemic places in Lamongan, East Java and transmission pattern of nonhuman source of infection

Background: Finding of Mycobacterium leprae from water and soil of leprosy endemic areas were reported. East Java Province is ranked number eight as the endemic area of leprosy in Indonesia and Lamongan district is the local area with the highest new cases reported. To study the transmission of M leprae infection in endemic areas, it is important to detect the distribution of M leprae in the environment and population, also to analyze the genetic variation pattern.