Micro pathological changes in the hair follicle of normal appearing skin and its role in transmission ofdisease in leprosy

Leprosy is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by Mycobacterium Leprae, which affects not only the peripheral nerves and skin but also various internal viscera through the hematogenous spread, especially in lepromatous cases. Low socioeconomic status people are affected more. In this study the total numbers of patients included were 60 from Meerut and nearby area. The pattern of leprosy among the patients were indeterminate, 25 cases (41.6%); tuberculoid, 6 cases (10.0%): borderline leprosy, 4 cases (6.6%); borderline lepromatous, 4 cases (6.6%) and lepromatous leprosy, 7 cases (11.6%). The aim of the study is to show the presence of bacilli in the hair follicle of normal appearing skin sites from leprosy cases and to correlate the transmission of disease from intact skin. The methods used for the study are (1) Hematoxylin and Eosin staining (2) modified Harada's allochrome method for demonstrating AFB.

Definitive histopathological changes along with presence of bacilli in the hair follicle of normal appearing skin are noticed. Presence of AFB is significant as far as dissemination and transmission of disease is concerned. It may be due to phagocytic activity of keratinocytes which engulf bacilli, hence, possibility of discharge of lepra bacilli from intact skin, even without ulceration, should be seriously considered.