Definition

Noun: * The bacterium that causes leprosy: Leprosy bacillus is the common name for the specific bacterium, Mycobacterium leprae, which is the infectious agent responsible for the disease leprosy (Hansen's disease). It is a slow-growing, rod-shaped bacterium.

Usage

• The term is used in medical and scientific contexts to identify the causative pathogen of leprosy.
• It is often used when discussing the microbiology, transmission, or pathology of the disease.

Examples

• Scientific identification: "Under the microscope, the leprosy bacillus appears as red, rod-shaped cells against a blue background when stained with the Ziehl-Neelsen method."
• Disease causation: "The leprosy bacillus primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, and mucous membranes."
• Historical context: "Dr. Gerhard Armauer Hansen discovered the leprosy bacillus in 1873, which is why leprosy is also called Hansen's disease."

Advanced Usage

• The term is largely synonymous with the formal scientific name Mycobacterium leprae. In modern technical writing, the scientific name is often preferred.
• It can be used in public health communications to explain the biological cause of the disease to a general audience.

Variants and Related Words

• Mycobacterium leprae (n): The formal, scientific binomial name for the leprosy bacillus.
• Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) (n): A descriptive term for bacteria, including , that retain certain stains due to their waxy cell walls. The leprosy bacillus is one type of acid-fast bacillus.

Synonyms

• Mycobacterium leprae (n)
• Hansen's bacillus (n)

Noun

1. cause of leprosy