Molecular origin of endemic leprosy in New York City

Clin Infect Dis. 2008 Mar 15;46(6):899-901. doi: 10.1086/528857.

Abstract

We report an indigenous case of leprosy in New York City in an immunocompetent patient who was infected with a Mycobacterium leprae genotype that is consistent with an exogenous origin. Physicians in the eastern United States should be alerted that, although most patients who develop leprosy in the United States are foreign born, native-born Americans are also susceptible to the infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • DNA, Bacterial / isolation & purification
  • Endemic Diseases*
  • Humans
  • Leprosy / epidemiology*
  • Leprosy / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium leprae* / classification
  • Mycobacterium leprae* / genetics
  • Mycobacterium leprae* / isolation & purification
  • New York City / epidemiology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics*
  • Skin / microbiology

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial