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Autochthonous North American Leprosy: A Second Case in Canada
Prenilla Naidu1,2, Rahul Sharma3,4, Jamil N Kanji1,2,5,6
1Public Health Laboratory, Alberta Precision Laboratories, University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, AB T6G 2J2, Canada.
Infectious Disease Reports
|October 26, 2021
Summary
Autochthonous leprosy, a bacterial infection, is increasingly reported in North America. This case highlights a new instance in Western Canada, linked to a European strain found in local armadillos.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Autochthonous (non-imported) leprosy cases have been documented in the Southern USA since 2011.
- Leprosy represented 34% of new cases in the USA between 2015 and 2020.
- The increasing prevalence necessitates surveillance in new geographical areas.
Observation:
- A 50-year-old male in Western Canada presented with a four-year history of a chronic rash.
- Pathology revealed acid-fast bacilli, leading to a suspicion of leprosy.
- The patient showed a positive response to treatment.
Findings:
- Slit skin smears and molecular testing confirmed leprosy.
- Genotypic analysis identified the causative organism as the 3I-2 SNP type.
- This specific strain is of European origin and is found in North American armadillos.
Implications:
- This case suggests a potential expansion of leprosy endemicity in North America.
- It underscores the importance of considering leprosy in patients with chronic dermatological conditions, even outside traditional endemic zones.
- Further research into the transmission dynamics between armadillos and humans is warranted.
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