Lack of evidence for the presence of leprosy bacilli in red squirrels from North-West Europe.

Authors :: Tió-Coma M
Sprong H
Kik M
van Dissel JT
Han XY
Pieters T
Geluk A
Source :: Transboundary and emerging diseases [Transbound Emerg Dis] 2020 Mar; Vol. 67 (2), pp. 1032-1034. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Dec 02.
Publication Year :: 2020
Abstract: Leprosy is a human infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis that can also occur in animals and even manifest as zoonosis. Recently, both mycobacteria were detected in red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from the British Isles. To further explore the presence of leprosy bacilli in North-West Europe, we screened Belgian and Dutch squirrels. Tissue samples from 115 animals tested by qPCR were negative for both pathogens. No molecular or pathological evidence was found of the presence of these zoonotic pathogens in North-West Europe.<br /> (© 2019 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Subjects :: Animals
Belgium epidemiology
Humans
Leprosy microbiology
Mycobacterium genetics
Mycobacterium leprae genetics
Netherlands epidemiology
United Kingdom epidemiology
Zoonoses
Leprosy veterinary
Mycobacterium isolation & purification
Mycobacterium leprae isolation & purification
Sciuridae microbiology

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