Lepromatous leprosy in man; depth of the cellular infiltrate and bacillary mass in relation to the possibility of transmission of leprosy by biting arthropods

Abstract

In order to further define the possible role of arthropods in the transmission of leprosy, the depth of the cellular infiltrate and bacillary mass in the skin of patients with untreated lepromatous leprosy was measured, and this was related to the depth of penetration of the mouthparts of some species of arthropods of medical importance. The results confirmed that large numbers of bacilli are readily available to the biting apparatus of several species of arthropods, but not to that of the scabies mite, which has only a superficial attachment and depth of penetration. The data do not indicate that leprosy transmission in man (or animals) occurs through biting arthropods, but they do lend support to this possibility, if only in a mechanical sense.