Single lesion subpolar lepromatous leprosy and its possible mode of origin

Three case reports of patients with a single, nodular, subpolar lepromatous skin lesion, one on the left elbow, another on the posterior aspect of the left leg, and the third on the extensor ulnar aspect of the right forearm, are presented. The lesions, clinically and histopathologically, resemble lepromas which develop at the site of experimental inoculation of Mycobacterium leprae in armadillos. These are sites on the body which are likely to be traumatized. With the distinct possibility of the presence of viable M. leprae in the soil of Louisiana and Texas from wild armadillos with the natural disease, it is suggested that these three patients acquired the infection from the environment and had inoculation lepromas.