ABSTRACT
The variance of tandem repeats in the rpoT gene of Mycobacterium leprae was recently demonstrated. The objects of this study was to examine the proportion and distributions of the genotypes of M. leprae in Korea and to compared it with genotypes of M. leprae form foreign leprosy patients using difference of the tandem repeats. Among 101 cases, 72 isolated from Korea and 4 cases from Japan (except Okinawa) demonstrated four copies of the 6 bp tandem repeats in the rpoT gene, and three copies were found in isolates from two korean, 2 cases of Okinawa in Japan, and those from Southeast Asian countries, Peru and Paraguay. These results reveal the genetic diversity of M. leprae and the related genotype-specific distribution in the world. In this study, a more detailed explanation can be also possible regarding the transmission route of M. leprae.