How Do You Spell BACILLUS LEPRAE?

1. Bacillus leprae is a specific type of bacterium that causes leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease. It is an obligate intracellular pathogen, meaning it can only survive and multiply within the cells of its host organism. Bacillus leprae is classified as a rod-shaped, Gram-positive bacterium, indicating that it appears as a long, cylindrical shape under a microscope and retains a purple dye.

   This bacterium is highly adapted to infecting and colonizing the peripheral nerves, cool extremities, and skin of humans. It primarily spreads through prolonged and close contact with an infected individual, particularly through respiratory droplets. The bacteria enter the body through the nasal passages and then infiltrate the nerve endings, where they multiply and elicit an immune response.

   Once inside the body, Bacillus leprae can remain dormant for an exceptionally long period, sometimes taking years to develop symptoms. In fact, many individuals exposed to this bacterium never develop the disease. The primary symptoms of leprosy include disfiguring skin lesions, nerve damage, muscle weakness, and loss of sensation.

   Although leprosy is now considered a rare and treatable disease, Bacillus leprae can cause significant disabilities if left untreated. The bacterium's slow multiplication rate and complex genetics have made it challenging to develop effective vaccines. However, multidrug therapy (MDT), a combination of antibiotics, has proven to be highly successful in treating and curing leprosy cases caused by Bacillus leprae. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent the transmission of the disease and minimize permanent damage.

2. A non-motile, acid-fast, gram-negative organism, the specific cause of leprosy, discovered by Hansen in 1871.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for BACILLUS LEPRAE

The word Bacillus leprae is derived from Latin and Greek.

The term Bacillus comes from the Latin word bacillum, meaning rod or little staff. It is used to describe rod-shaped bacteria, which Bacillus leprae belongs to.

The species name leprae is derived from the Greek word lepra, meaning scaly disease or leprosy. This name was given to the bacterium because it is the causative agent of leprosy, a chronic infectious disease that primarily affects the skin and nerves.

So, the etymology of Bacillus leprae can be understood as rod-shaped bacterium causing leprosy.