Transmission And Causes Of Leprosy

Inherited Susceptibility

Although leprosy is not passed down through genetics, research strongly suggests individuals can have an inherited susceptibility for it. This means they are more likely than others to actually get the disease if they come in contact with the bacteria that causes it. So far, the pattern for inheritance is not known. Sometimes, entire populations are more susceptible to leprosy, which is one of the reasons 250,000 new cases are still reported each year. One of the main ways individuals with an increased inherited susceptibility to leprosy differ from everyone else involves their single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). As a result, this is a major area of research to help determine an individual's risk level.