Abstract
In 1926, a mycobacterial skin disease was observed in water buffaloes by researchers in Indonesia. The disease was designated as skin tuberculosis, though it was hypothesized that it might be a form of leprosy or a leprosy-like disease. In a follow-up study (Ph.D. thesis Lobel, 1934, Utrecht University, Netherlands) a similar nodular skin disease was described in Indonesian water buffaloes and named “lepra bubalorum” or “nodular leprosy.” Two decades later Kraneveld and Roza (1954) reported that, so far, the diagnosis lepra bubalorum had been made in 146 cases in Indonesia. After a final series of research reports by Indonesian veterinarians in 1961, no subsequent cases were published. Based on information from these reports, it can be concluded that, even though evidence of nerve involvement in buffaloes was not reported, similarities exist between lepra bubalorum and Hansen’s disease (leprosy), i.e., nodular skin lesions with a chronic course and microscopically granulomatous reactions with AFB in globi in vacuoles. This raises the question as to whether these historical cases might indeed have been caused by Mycobacterium leprae, Mycobacterium lepromatosis or another representative of the M. leprae complex. The future use of state-of-the-art molecular techniques may answer this question and may also help to answer the question whether water buffaloes should be considered as a potential natural reservoir of the causative pathogen of Hansen’s disease.
Highlights
Leprosy, known as Hansen’s disease, results from infection with Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) or Mycobacterium lepromatosis (M. lepromatosis)
Lepra Bubalorum has been detected in the British red squirrels (Simpson et al, 2015)
Exposure to an animal or to its excreta is influenced by human behaviour. Activities such as hunting and/or preparing armadillos as food can be expected to cause different risks of transmission, depending on exposure intensity and frequency (Silva da et al, 2018). It is unclear whether armadillo transmission risks are confounded by environmental exposure to M. leprae, caused by shedding of leprosy bacteria by infected armadillos
Summary
Known as Hansen’s disease, results from infection with Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) or Mycobacterium lepromatosis (M. lepromatosis). The material used for inoculation were homogenised skin nodules in which numerous intact rods of bacteria were present These negative results of bacterial cultures and animal inoculations suggest a close relationship between the AFB in the lesions of buffaloes and M. leprae. Clinical manifestations similar to those in water buffaloes have been found in cattle in Indonesia, as first reported by Meyer and Walandouw (1935) In these animals nodules were present on the skin of all body regions. Ressang (1961) described one buffalo cow with nodules over its whole body (Figures 4A,B) He performed histopathological examination of a nerve trunk embedded in granulomatous tissue; the nerve bundles were unaffected and no bacterial growth in the perineurium was seen. In total around 200 cases of lepra bubalorum have been recorded in buffaloes, of which 80% in Sulawesi And histopathologically it resembles lepromatous leprosy in humans. None were aware of any case resembling lepra bubalorum at that time (personal communication)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
