Multibacillary leprosy by population groups in Brazil: Lessons from an observational study.

Background: Leprosy remains an important public health problem in Brazil where 28,761 new cases were diagnosed in 2015, the second highest number of new cases detected globally. The disease is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a pathogen spread by patients with multibacillary (MB) leprosy. This study was designed to identify population groups most at risk for MB disease in Brazil, contributing to new ideas for early diagnosis and leprosy control.

Human migration, railways and the geographic distribution of leprosy in Rio Grande do Norte State--Brazil.

Introduction: Leprosy is a public health problem in Brazil where 31,044 new cases were detected in 2013. Rio Grande do Norte is a small Brazilian state with a rate of leprosy lower than other areas in the same region, for unknown reasons.

Objectives: We present here a review based on the analysis of a database of registered leprosy cases in Rio Grande do Norte state, comparing leprosy's geographic distribution among municipalities with local socio-economic and public health indicators and with historical documents about human migration in this Brazilian region.

Examining ERBB2 as a candidate gene for susceptibility to leprosy (Hansen's disease) in Brazil.

Leprosy remains prevalent in Brazil. ErbB2 is a receptor for leprosy bacilli entering Schwann cells, which mediates Mycobacterium leprae-induced demyelination and the ERBB2 gene lies within a leprosy susceptibility locus on chromosome 17q11-q21. To determine whether polymorphisms at the ERBB2 locus contribute to this linkage peak, three haplotype tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tag-SNPs) (rs2517956, rs2952156, rs1058808) were genotyped in 72 families (208 cases; 372 individuals) from the state of Pará (PA).

Intolerance to leprosy multi-drug therapy: more common in women?

Objectives: The objective was to characterise and identify potential risk factors for intolerance to multi-drug leprosy therapy (MDT) which prompted a medication change in a leprosy referral centre in northeastern Brazil.

Design: A retrospective chart review of leprosy patients treated at a state referral centre for leprosy in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil was completed. Chart review focus was on adverse effects necessitating modification of MDT regimen.

Nodular secondary syphilis simulating lepromatous leprosy.

There are diverse skin manifestations of both leprosy and syphilis. These diseases can appear similar to many other dermatologic conditions as well as to systemic diseases with dermatologic signs. Nodular syphilis is an uncommon type of secondary syphilis.