The role of arthropods in the transmission of leprosy.

As Kirchheimer (1973) has pointed out, the unsatisfactory state of knowledge of the transmission of Hansen's disease is apparent from the disagreements about the portal of entry of Mycobacterium leprae into the human body. Weddell and his associates (1963) have cast doubt upon the bel ief in the preval ence of the dermal route of infection subscribed to by most leprologists. Furthermore, it is worth noting that not even the protagoni sts of the hypothesis of dermal ' entrance are in agreement among themse lves on the nature of the infecting event. Some I ike Khanolkar (1963) have stressed th e nece ss ity of persist ent and intimate contact with human cases of leprosy in an infectious state. Dungal (1960 , 1961) on th e other hand, comes out in favor of accidental infection by ectoparasites or parasites of the skin.