Viability of Mycobacterium leprae outside the human body

Abstract

It is important to recognise whether Mycobacterium leprae discharged from the body will remain alive after they settle down over articles of daily use, and if so the duration of their viability. The common belief is that the organisms die soon after they are discharged from the body, particularly in tropical countries. In order to verify this concept, an experimental procedure has been designed using the mouse foot-pad model. It has been found that the organisms remain alive for more than 9 days. This finding has an important bearing on the epidemiology of leprosy.