@article{25643,
  author = {Balamayooran G and Pena MT and Sharma R and Truman RW},
  title = {The armadillo as an animal model and reservoir host for Mycobacterium leprae},
  abstract = {<p>Apart from humans, armadillos are the only known natural hosts of Mycobacterium leprae. They are well developed as hosts for in vivo propagation of M leprae and are advancing as models for studying the pathogenesis of leprosy and translational research. Armadillos are immunologically intact. They exhibit the full Ridley-Jopling spectrum of histopathologic responses to M leprae and uniquely manifest extensive neurological involvement that closely recapitulates human leprosy. In addition, free-ranging armadillos in some regions are known to harbor a naturally occurring infection with M leprae, and zoonotic transmission between armadillos and humans has been implicated in a large number of new case presentations. We review the role of the armadillo as a model for leprosy and reservoir for human infection.</p>
},
  year = {2015},
  journal = {Clinics in Dermatology},
  volume = {33},
  pages = {108 - 115},
  issn = {0738081X},
  doi = {10.1016/j.clindermatol.2014.07.001},
  language = {eng},
}