Pathogenesis of leprosy following local and intravenous inoculation of mycobacterium leprae in mice

ABSTRACT

One hundred and sixty mice were inoculated, either locally in the foot pad or intravenously, with varying concentrations of Mycobacterium leprae. Half these animals were exposed to total body irradiation in order to immunosuppress them. This was in an attempt to establish the pathogenesis of leprosy following the various routes of infection, and the effect of host immunity on the process. Results showed that only limited multiplication occurred following local inoculation of normal mice. The cellular reaction, however, was more extensive in the irradiated animals and acid fast bacilli were observed in larger numbers in the latter group. Concerning remote organs as the liver, spleen and lymph nodes, these were found to be affected only in the intravenously inoculated group and more so in the immunosuppressed animals. These results are discussed