What is the only creature beside man to get Hansen's Disease (formerly known as leprosy)?

Armadillos (armored mammals) are the only other animals besides humans to host the leprosy bacillus. In 2011, the New England Journal of Medicine published an article formally linking the creature to human leprosy cases—people and armadillos tested in the study both shared the same exact strain of the disease.

Even if these animals can carry the bacteria, there is nothing to be scared about: leprosy remains a very rare disease, and only 5 percent of people are susceptible to it.

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

32 Comments

Georgia Kemp

Feline leprosy is caused by mycobacteria.

Deborah Gabriel

My brother, who lived in Texas for a while, told me that when I was a kid.

Rafi Manory

5% is a very high percent!

Ed Taber

Possum on half shell.

Cari G.

Thank you 50/50!

Gold Toy Box

After reading the comment by "Chief Raven", did some googling and it seems the answer given is way off base & out of date. Anyway I did learn something about Armadillos!

dcboyden

Picked odd animal out. Got it!

Les Griffin

I knew this because a buddy told me he wanted his picture taken with one even a dead one as he was touring the states on his Harley

Janette Will

Learnt something new.

Fred Mayes

Do they get leprosy or are they merely carriers of the disease?

ChiefRaven

Fact check! Armadillos, rabbits, mangebey monkeys are others, just to name a few.

Ketan Patel

Thought Armadillo was an unusual option so went with that. Guessed right and got lucky!

Jim Mascair

I read that their lower body temperature makes them easier to catch it. A research laboratory was buying them for research, but I couldn't chase them down.