Human-armadillo interaction in Ceará, Brazil: Potential for transmission of Mycobacterium leprae.
Publication/Presentation Date
12-1-2015
Abstract
Several factors suggest that armadillos present an important risk for human leprosy infection. This study uses semi-structured interviews to better illustrate how human interaction with armadillos may increase the risk of leprosy transmission. The participants were all residents of the state of Ceará, in northeastern Brazil, all acknowledged contact with armadillos either through hunting, through cooking, or through consumption of its meat. This study raises important issues about contact between human beings and armadillos. The interviews provide evidence of numerous situations in which leprosy transmission via the armadillo is possible. At a minimum, people who hunt armadillos need to be made aware of the risk of infection.
Volume
152
First Page
74
Last Page
79
ISSN
1873-6254
Published In/Presented At
Kerr, L., Kendall, C., Sousa, C. A. B., Frota, C. C., Graham, J., Rodrigues, L., Fernandes, R. L., & Barreto, M. L. (2015). Human-armadillo interaction in Ceará, Brazil: Potential for transmission of Mycobacterium leprae. Acta tropica, 152, 74–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.07.023
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
26232656
Department(s)
Fellows and Residents, Department of Surgery, Department of Surgery Residents
Document Type
Article