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Mycobacterium leprae is a aerobic, gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria. It has a long incubation period, which means it could be a long time before symptoms appear after the pathogen is contracted.This human pathogen causes the disease known as leprosy. Although, not all of individuals that acquire the pathogen, Mycobacterium leprae, go on to develop leprosy, because only 5% to 10% of the population is thought to be susceptible to the infection for the immunological reasons.

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Leprosy is a chronic infection that can be considered two connected diseases that affect superficial tissues, nerves, skin, and the upper respiratory system. Their are two types of leprosy known as Tuberculoid and Lepromatous. The disease is mild and only mildy contagious.

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The disease is spread in humans by droplets of nasal mucus. It usually occurs when an individual sneezes or coughs. The disease is not highly contagious, so an individual has to have constant, close contact to contract the disease.  The disease can also be spread by armidillos and a few primates. Their is still no wholly accepted explanation about the cause and spread of this disease.

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-Muscle weakness
-Numbness
-Skin lesions
-nose bleeds
-painless swelling or lumps
-enlarged nerves

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20% of Mycobacterium leprae infections occur in children age 10 and under, and it is split evenly between males and females. In adults, males are twice as likely than females to contract the disease. 85% of cases are found in immigrants.

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In order to learn rather an individual has received this pathogen and thus disease, a doctor can test a small patch of their skin. There is a multi-drug therapy that cures all types of leprosy. Also, their are several drugs that individually treat leprosy including dapsone, rifampin, clofazomine, monocycline, ofloxacin.

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If not treated, this pathogen's disease can cause disfigurement, hair loss, non-reversible muscle, weakness, permanent nerve damage in the arms and legs, collapse of the nasal septum, blindness, kidney failure, etc.

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The best and only way to prevent acquiring this disease is to avoid close contact for long periods of time.