Lepra Armadillo
The majority of nine banded armadillos like the one shown here in brazils western state of para show signs of exposure to the bacterium that causes leprosy.
Lepra armadillo. A nine banded armadillo image. A surge in cases in brazil gives reason for concern there and in the us. In 2011 the new england journal of medicine published an article formally linking the creature to human leprosy.
Photograph by joel sartore national. Leprosy is spreading from armadillo to human contact leprosy is an ancient disease the oldest disease known to be associated with humans with evidence of characteristic bone pitting and. Humans gave leprosy to armadillos now they are giving it.
Armadillos are the only other animals besides humans to host the leprosy bacillus.