Influence of environmental mycobacteria on the prevalence of leprosy clinical type.

A comparison was made of antibody levels to 16 environmental mycobacteria in leprosy patients and healthy controls. Significant differences in response were found between patients and controls from an area of Zimbabwe with predominantly lepromatous leprosy when compared to an area where more tuberculoid cases were found. The results obtained suggest that exposure to some environmental mycobacteria may influence the type of leprosy developed by susceptible individuals.