1. Leprosy
Mycobacterium leprae

2. Quick Reference Environment: human, mice, nine-banded armadillo
Microorganism: Gram + rod
Spore former: NO
Motile: NO
Susceptibility: anyone
Communicability: infectious
Exposure: exposure to skin
Incubation: 2-20 years
Primary Treatment: antibiotics; multi-drug treatment
Prognosis: antibiotics keep disfigurement to a minimum
Quarantine recommended: occasionally
( This is a Small island off the Upolu coast once designated as a leper colony )

3. Taxonomy Kingdom: Monera Phylum: Schizophyta Class: Actinomycetes
Order: Actinomycetales
Family: Mycobacteriaceae
Genus: Mycobacterium
Species: Leprea

4. Physiology
The genome of the Myrcobacteria leprae 1–8 μm long and 0.3–0.5 μm wide
aerobic
nonsporeformers
have a cell wall that is rich in long-chain fatty acid esters known as "mycolic acids" that are attached to the cell wall through arabinogalactan
Mycolic acids are chemically related to wax and give the colonies their characteristic waxy appearance, and the cells, a tendency to clump and resist dispersion
Gram Positive
all mycobacteria grow slowly with generation times that range from 2 hours for M. smegmatis to 12 days for M. leprae.

5. Diagnostic Tests
the only methods to propagate M. leprae bacilli are via animal infections with either 9-banded armadillos or severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice.
Growth of sufficient bacilli for laboratory manipulation takes approximately one year, inasmuch as the generation time for this organism is approximately 14 days in animal tissues.

6. Incubation
children younger than two years do not have leprosy symptoms. In addition, people residing in nonendemic countries who have visited a site with endemic leprosy may develop the disease many years after the initial exposure
Leprosy is a chronic disease with a long incubation period
the incubation period is estimated to range from 2–12 years ( can be longer). Like those infected with TB, only about 10% of those infected with leprosy go on to develop the disease

7. Leprosy Symptoms Leprosy is also known as Hansen's disease.
Caused by a germ similar to that which causes tuberculosis.
It attacks the nerves of the hands, feet and face.
If left untreated can take away the ability to move fingers, toes and eyelids.
It can also destroy the ability to feel pain so those affected are prone to injuries and burns.
The longer the disease is left undetected, the more likely it is that the deformities, so often associated with leprosy, will occur.

8. WHO Region Cases on treatment New Cases Detected in 2002
Latest Mortality and Morbidity Reports Many people tend to think of leprosy as a biblical disease. The truth is that the World Health Organization (WHO) still lists leprosy as one of the major health problems of developing countries – including India, Brazil, Africa, Nepal and Bangladesh
WHO Region
Cases on treatment
New Cases Detected in 2002
Africa
53,888
48,248
In 2002 over 610,000 people were diagnosed with leprosy. At that rate the number of new cases found this year would be
Americas
75,686
39,939
Eastern Med.
7,899
4,665
S.E. Asia
385,458
520,632
Western Pacific
11,335
7,154
Europe 45 34
Total
534,311
620,672
Source: World Health Organization 2003
(figures shown for 110 reporting countries)

10. The Cure The good news is that today leprosy can be cured.
A course of pills, called Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT), cures most patients in 6 months, and the more infectious patients within 1 year.
If treatment is started early deformities and disabilities can be prevented and social stigmatization avoided.
The effects can be incredibly dramatic as the photograph below shows

11. References
Mycobacterium leprae (leprosy).
BEATRICE SAVIOLA WILLIAM BISHAI. The Genus Mycobacterium—Medical. The Prokaryotes: an evolving electronic resource for the microbiological community. © 1991,   Springer-Verlag New York, LLC
Lepra. What is Leprosy.