where does the bacteria that causes leprosy come from
Leprosy Leprosy is spread between people and possibly from armadillos.[7] This is thought to occur through a cough or contact with fluid from the nose of an infected person.[7] Leprosy occurs more commonly among those living in poverty.[2] Contrary to popular belief, it is not highly contagious.[2] The two main types of disease are based on the number of bacteria present: paucibacillary and multibacillary.[2] The two types are differentiated by the number of poorly pigmented, numb skin patches present, with paucibacillary having five or fewer and multibacillary having more than five.[2] The diagnosis is confirmed by finding acid-fast bacilli in a biopsy of the skin or by detecting the DNA using polymerase chain reaction.[2]