TOPIC 15: Leprosy

Question 1

what causes leprosy?

Answer 1

Mycobacterium leprae

Question 2

____ is an Intracellular acid-fast bacillus

Answer 2

Mycobacterium leprae

Question 3

what is the alternative name for leprosy?

Answer 3

Hansen’s disease

Question 4

T/F: Mycobacterium leprae is the 1st bacterium shown to cause human disease

Answer 4

true!!

Question 5

what is the generation time for leprosy?

Answer 5

13 days- INCREDIBLY slow growing

Question 6

______:
* Cannot be cultured in the laboratory
* Slow replication results in 5 year incubation period
* Symptoms can develop anywhere from 6 months to 20 years after initial infection
* Prefers cooler temperatures found in the extremities- nose, fingers

Answer 6

Mycobacterium leprae

Question 7

can Mycobacterium leprae infect some animal species?

Answer 7

Can infect some animal species
* Nine-banded armadillo species
* Can serve as a route of transmission to humans

Question 8

_____ infects skin and mucosal sites
* Can involve the eyes and sometime also the testes, bone and muscle

Answer 8

Mycobacterium leprae

Question 9

Bacterium is shed from ______ despite manifestation in
the skin

Answer 9

respiratory mucosa

Attaches to the respiratory tissue using adhesins
* Viable Mycobacterial cells have been isolated in nasal secretions for >48
hours

Question 10

Mycobacterium leprae infects the peripheral nerves, what does this result in?

Answer 10

• Damage to nerve results in loss of sensation
• Damage is mediated by the immune system

Question 11

Inability to feel leads to burns, injury and other tissue damage that results in
disfigurement and scaring

how does this affect the psychological state of the patient?

Answer 11

affects patients negatively!!! due to physical stigma and damage

Question 12

where is the highest prevalence of leprosy?

Answer 12

Highest prevalence in India and Indonesia
* >50% of all cases are in India
* Bangledesh, Nepal, the Phillipines and Sri Lanka
also have high prevalence

Question 13

T/F: 2-3 million people globally suffer effects of leprosy disease

Answer 13

true

Question 14

Disfigurement, deformation and blindness result in a lot of _____

Answer 14

stigma

Question 15

The word leprosy carries bad associations- _____ is often used
in its place
* Lots of isolation and discrimination against those that are infected

Answer 15

Hansen’s disease

Question 16

due to the severe social and psychological implications of leprosy, it prevents…

Answer 16

Prevents diagnosis and adherence to therapy

Lots of care must be given to prevent disfigurement and disability
* Maintains productivity in society

Depression and suicidal thoughts are reported in many patients

Question 17

Discriminatory laws prevail against people with _____
* Ex) can’t ride the metro or hold certain jobs in different areas

Answer 17

leprosy

Question 18

In India divorce is authorizable when a partner has ______

Answer 18

leprosy

Question 19

______ is a key determinate of the severity of infection and
disease progression

Answer 19

Immune response

Question 20

______ is the number one complaint on presentation of
leprosy

Answer 20

Loss of sensation

Question 21

ability to feel _____ is lost first, pain, touch, pressure are lost after

Answer 21

Temperature

Question 22

what are the two primary stages of leprosy?

Answer 22

Tuberculoid leprosy (paucibacillary leprosy)

Lepramatous leprosy (multibacillary leprosy)

Question 23

_______:
* Large lesions, few
* Macular and red
* Raised borders
* Hypo or hyperpigmented
* Loss of sensation due to nerve damageà anaesthesia
* Thickened nerves due to swelling from damage
* Infrequently progresses to lepramatous stage
* Good cell mediated immune responses

Answer 23

Tuberculoid leprosy (paucibacillary leprosy)

Question 24

_______:
* Multiple lesions
* Deeper lesions
* Larger
* Rich with M. leprae cells
* Can infect hair follicles- loss of eyebrows and lashes
* Ulcerated nodules occur in severe cases
* Rich with M. leprae inside of macrophages- called foam cells
* Loss of sensation may not occur
* Nerve thickness is not seen
* Can involve eyes and other organs
* Resorption of digits can occur
* Saddleback nose occurs when nasal cartilage is destroyed

Answer 24

Lepramatous leprosy (multibacillary leprosy)