Finding acid-fast bacilli within peripheral nerves is most suggestive of:
Relapsing fever
Syphilis
Leprosy
Tuberculosis
Lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy, the major forms of leprosy, are caused by infection with Mycobacterium leprae. Nerve involvement is most typical of the lepromatous form. Histologic sections reveal acid-fast bacilli within peripheral nerves.