The Presence of Mycobacterium leprae in Wild Rodents.

Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by . There is a lack of data regarding environmental reservoirs, which may represent a serious public health problem in Brazil, especially in the state of Pará, which occupies the fourth position in incidence of cases in the country. Previous studies report evidence of infection occurring among armadillos, mangabei monkeys, and chimpanzees. In the present study, wild animals were captured and tested for the presence of anti-PGL-1 antibodies and DNA. Fieldwork was carried out from October to November of 2016 in the cities of Curionópolis and Canaã dos Carajás, southeast of Pará state. Small and medium-sized wild animals were captured using appropriate traps. A total of 15 animals were captured. Sera and viscera fragments were collected and tested by ELISA and PCR methods. The presence of DNA was confirmed by sequencing of specific gyrase gene in three animals of two different species, including one (liver sample) and two (kidney and liver samples). This unprecedented finding suggests that species other than those previously reported are responsible for maintaining in nature.