Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease which mainly affects the skin and peripheral nervous system. It has been associated with significant fear and stigma because of causing disabilities and deformities. According to the latest reports by World Health Organization (WHO), there were more than 180000 registered leprosy cases in the first quarter of 2014 and over 214000 new cases were detected in 2013.
In this brief review, updates on a new causative agent for leprosy, Mycobactrium leprosmatosis, armadillos and the possibility of existence of a zoonotic form of leprosy, new strains of M. leprae and their importance, and the latest available leprosy statistics in Iran will be presented.