A semi quantitative analysis of bacterial load in different cell types in leprous nerves using transmission electron microscope.

Thirty lepromatous (BL-LL) and 25 tuberculoid (TT-BT) nerve lesions obtained from untreated cases of leprosy were scanned using transmission electron microscope for assessing the bacterial load in different cell types. Major bulk of infection was seen in the Schwann cells of nonmyelinated fibres, in both early lepromatous and tuberculoid nerve lesions, suggesting that M. leprae spread mainly via the Schwann cells within the nerve.