Universidade Federal do Cear?. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal. Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.; Universidade Federal do Cear?. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal. Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.; Minist?rio da Sa?de. Secretaria de Vigil?ncia em Sa?de. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.; Universidade Federal do Cear?. Departamento de Geologia. Fortal...
BACKGROUND The detection of live Mycobacterium leprae in soil and animals other than humans suggests that the environment plays a role in the transmission of leprosy. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of viable M. leprae in natural water sources used by the local population in five municipalities in the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil. METHODS Samples were collected from ...