Detection of Mycobacterium leprae DNA in soil; Multiple needles in the haystack?
M. Tio-Coma, T. Wijnands, L. Pierneef, A. K. Schilling, K. Alam, J. C. Roy, W. R. Faber, H. Menke, T. Pieters, K. Stevenson, J. H. Richardus, A. Geluk
This study detects M. leprae DNA in soil from regions with leprosy patients, armadillos, and red squirrels, suggesting environmental reservoirs may contribute to transmission.
bioRxiv · Jul 11, 2018Microbiology