leprosy bacillus
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- cause of leprosy