Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jun 2021)

Fecal Excretion of Mycobacterium leprae, Burkina Faso

  • Anselme Millogo,
  • Ahmed Loukil,
  • Coralie L’Ollivier,
  • Diakourga Arthur Djibougou,
  • Sylvain Godreuil,
  • Michel Drancourt

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2706.200748
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 6
pp. 1758 – 1760

Abstract

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Mycobacterium leprae was detected by optical microscopy, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and molecular detection in feces collected for the diagnosis of Entamoeba coli enteritis in a leprosy patient in Burkina Faso. This observation raises questions about the role of fecal excretion of M. leprae in the natural history and diagnosis of leprosy.

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