Friday, July 12, 2013

Armadillos Can Spread Leprosy

 Armadillos are often used in the study of leprosy, since they are among the few known species that can contract the disease systemically. 


Picture from Armadillos.info


It's the armadillos unusually low body temperature that makes them susceptible to the leprosy causing bacterium. Humans can acquire a leprosy infection from armadillos by handling them or consuming armadillo meat.  It is believed that armadillos originally contracted the disease from humans sometime in the late 15th Century.

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