Leprosy Mailing List Blog

Monday, November 2, 2026

Fw: Ref.: (LML) Infolep monthly overview of new publications on leprosy. October, 2026

Leprosy Mailing List – October 2, 2026

Ref.: (LML) Infolep monthly overview of new publications on leprosy. October, 2026

From: Elizabeth Talatu Williams, Amsterdam,. The Netherlands

____________________________________________________________________________

Dear colleagues,

We are pleased to share the October 2026 edition of the Infolep newsletter, featuring new research, case reports, publications, global updates and upcoming events from across the leprosy field.

This month's featured research explores health-seeking behaviours among persons cured of leprosy in Ghana, factors affecting disability among people affected by leprosy in Indonesia, and the potential of artificial intelligence and digital health in leprosy diagnosis.

Our latest publications section covers a wide range of topics, including leprosy epidemiology in Mexico and Tanzania, barriers to accessing biomedical care, advances in diagnostic techniques, and historical evidence of leprosy revealed through paleogenomics.

The case reports section features challenging clinical presentations, including leprosy mimicking other neurological conditions, delayed diagnosis, and a rare case of leprosy-associated kidney disease in an adolescent.

In our news and events section, we share global developments in leprosy elimination, updates on national initiatives, stories of people affected by leprosy, and the discovery of a medieval leprosy hospital in the UK. We also highlight the upcoming 13th Edition of the EDCTP Forum, taking place in Madrid, Spain, from 5–9 April 2027.

Stay connected with Infolep for the latest research, resources, news and opportunities supporting the global leprosy community.

Warm regards,
Elizabeth Talatu Williams

www.leprosy-information.org
info@infolep.org

Featured Research Spotlight

Understanding influences on health-seeking behaviours among persons cured of leprosy in the Godokpe community, Volta Region of Ghana: A qualitative descriptive study
Duboh RJ, Delali DK, Manu E, et al. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. Public Library of Science (PLoS). 2026; 20 (9): 1 - 19.

Comparative Analysis of Factors Affecting Disability Among Leprosy Patients Across Five Endemic Regions in Indonesia
Wahyuni LK, Nelfidayani, Irawati Y, et al. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. MDPI AG. 2026; 23 (10): 1 - 20.

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health in the Diagnosis of Leprosy: Current Advances and Future Perspectives
Rivera G, Rubio R, Rodríguez L, et al. Acta Microbiologica Hellenica. MDPI AG. 2026; 71 (4): 1 - 9.

Other New Publications

Feel free to contact us to receive full-text versions if these cannot be found through the Infolep portal.

Leprosy in Sonora, Mexico: A 14-Year Retrospective Study of Clinical, Epidemiological, and Sociodemographic Characteristics
Preciado Gocobachi EE, Salgado Salomón MA, Navarro Armendariz GA, et al. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. MDPI AG. 2026; 11 (10): 1 - 11.

Geospatial inequalities in severe leprosy disability in Pernambuco before and during COVID-19
Melo ATL, Galvão PVM, Correia CDC. The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases. Elsevier BV. 2026; 30 (5): 1 - 5.

Epidemiological profile of leprosy cases at Nazareti Leprosy Center, Tanzania: A retrospective analysis (2000–2024)
Machang’u R, Kagesyeko JN, Edward M, et al. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. Public Library of Science (PLoS). 2026; 20 (9): 1 - 12.

Dermoscopic Spectrum of Nail Alterations in Pediatric Leprosy: A Cross-Sectional Study from an Endemic Settings
Gunawan H, Menaldi SL, Resna EN, et al. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. Informa UK Limited. 2026.

Differential Expression and Correlation of High-mobility Group Box 1 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid across Leprosy Clinical Groups and Healthy Controls: A Cross-sectional Study
Noviyanthi RA, Natzir R, Djawad K, et al. The International Journal of Mycobacteriology. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). 2026; 15 (3): 272 - 281.

Clinical and Bacteriological Profile of Leprosy: A Case Series of 18 Patients From A Tertiary Care Hospital
Dr. Sneh Lata, Dr. Shivani, Dr. Rupali, et al. International Journal of Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Pharma Research. 2026; 15 (9): 1 - 7.

Barriers to biomedical care: Qualitative insights into health-seeking behaviors and systemic challenges among people affected by leprosy in Tanzanian communities
Muhigi SA, Mashoto K, Chiduo M, et al. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. Public Library of Science (PLoS). 2026; 20 (10): 1 - 13.

Declining Leprosy-Related Hospitalization Rates and Increasing In-Hospital Case Fatality in Brazil: A Nationwide Ecological Time-Series Study, 2008-2023
de Souza BC, Dos Santos JBM, Dantas GG, et al. Cureus. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. 2026; 18 (10): 1 - 22.

Histopathology of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum With Emphasis on Post-multidrug Therapy Considerations: A Narrative Review
Shukla DT, Bhensadadiya M. Cureus. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. 2026; 18 (10): 1 - 9.

Immunohistochemical Evaluation of S100 and CD163 in Leprosy with Emphasis on Polar Leprosy
Joshi AL, Somalwar SB, Prabhala S, et al. Annals of African Medicine. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). 2026.

Paleogenomics reveals leprosy at the late antique burial site of Fallward in northern Germany
Myburgh DA, da Silva NA, Romeyer-Dherbey JH, et al. iScience. Elsevier BV. 2026; 29 (11): 1 - 15.

Dermoscopic Patterns in Granulomatous Diseases: A Narrative Review
Sunil SS, Korecka K, Polańska A. Journal of Clinical Medicine. MDPI AG. 2026; 15 (20): 1 - 13.

Case Reports

Probable leprosy-associated systemic AA amyloidosis presenting as end-stage kidney disease in an adolescent: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in a resource-limited endemic setting
Tanod DV, Susalit E, Nugroho P. Kidney International Case Reports. Elsevier BV. 2026.

Multibacillary Leprosy Presenting as Chronic Progressive Polyneuropathy Initially Diagnosed as Probable Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP): A Diagnostic Pitfall
Goyal J, Gupta S, Mahendra A, et al. Cureus. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. 2026; 18 (10): 1 - 7.

Multibacillary Lepromatous Leprosy in an Endemic Area: A Two-Year Diagnostic Delay and the Role of Slit-Skin Smear and PCR
Zumaque Carrascal AM, Berrocal C, Aguado Torrez LE, et al. Cureus. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. 2026; 18 (10): 1 – 7.

Pure Neuritic Leprosy Masquerading as Diabetic Neuropathy: A Diagnostic Challenge
Borthakur K, Mondal SS, Basu K, et al. Bengal Physician Journal. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishing. 2026; 13 (3): 200 - 202.

Friday, October 23, 2026

Fw: Ref.: (LML) The self-defence printed card

Leprosy Mailing List – October 23, 2026

Ref.: (LML) The self-defence printed card

From: Ben Naafs, Munnekeburen, the Netherlands

____________________________________________________________________________

Dear Pieter,

I read Joël’s recent contribution (LML October 19, 2006). It is basically a compilation of what he has written before. For one of my last remarks I must apologise. I found the article he mentioned on Zenodo and did not realise it was a stored article. I could not come into the Indian leprosy Journal via their website. But using DuckDuckGo AI I was able to get the article and very interesting found the comments on that article by Sanderson and Rao and Joel’s answer too. I will include them in this message

A short remark on LAMP and mLAMP. Indeed they can be a real help in future as Pieter agreed on LML. A study tested LAMP on nasal swabs from children with leprosy, alongside slit-skin smears. It found M. leprae DNA in 37 of 53 nasal swabs (69.8%). This was a clinical study, though. ( Indian J Pediatr 93, 81 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-025-05792-4 I do not know whether nasal-swab LAMP is already used in the field. A good clinical examination has still to be done together with it. I agree with Joël that the proven patients should be getting full treatment. The contacts need a close follow-up. Concerning mLAMP: it needs more primers. The added challenge is getting multiple primer sets to work together without interfering. So, it may be feasible in a suitably equipped lab, but it isn’t yet a plug-and-play field test. ( https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89304-2 ).

His next paragraph starts with a description of a form of innate immunity. Most studies are done in mice. But it is not unlikely that the same happens in man. The question is what will happen when PEP is given. M. leprae in a Schwann cell or macrophage can alter host RNA and DNA-related signalling, but not usually as a simple “large increase in DNA and RNA” from one bactericidal dose. Thus, I expect that PEP will not have much effect. In a leprosy patient most bacilli are already dead, as I mentioned before in one of my LML contributions and those few that die will not increase the signalling to cause damage. But it must be investigated in a research setup with mice. This is our task and not only the PEP believers!

Joël also states that: “There is no evidence at all that the 90 to 99.9% bactericide achieved by a single dose of a bactericidal drug somehow fails to damage bacilli within macrophages or to release bacillary debris including DNA into the macrophage cytosol”. But as mentioned before, I think when it kills it will be too little to cause extra damage. Also, that needs proper research.

Everything about PEP and problems after using PEP are said. For further discussions we should wait for research into this matter. In cell cultures, in animals or in a proper designed epidemiological study particular looking into the mentioned problems.

With regards,

Ben
--
dr Ben Naafs

____________________________________________________________________________

LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << edit...@gmail.com

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Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Fw: Ref.: (LML) FORMHANSEN: neurodermatological assessment form and completion guide in Portuguese and English

From: Pieter AM Schreuder <impieter@hotmail.com>
Sent: 21 October 2026 15:34
To: aifo.bologna.hansen@blogger.com <aifo.bologna.hansen@blogger.com>; Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative <hansen@shf.or.jp>
Subject: Fw: Ref.: (LML) FORMHANSEN: neurodermatological assessment form and completion guide in Portuguese and English

Leprosy Mailing List – October 21, 2026

Ref.: (LML) FORMHANSEN: neurodermatological assessment form and completion guide in Portuguese and English

From: Claudio Salgado, Marituba, Brazil

____________________________________________________________________________

Dear Pieter and LML colleagues,

Following the recent discussions on the importance of careful clinical examination, particularly among contacts, I would like to share FORMHANSEN, a structured neurodermatological assessment form for Hansen’s disease, now freely available on Zenodo in Portuguese and English, with a completion guide in each language.

FORMHANSEN was developed at the Dermato-Immunology Laboratory of the Federal University of Pará (LDI/UFPA), Brazil. It was used extensively and progressively refined during the training of new physicians specializing in Hansen’s disease in Mato Grosso, through a programme conducted by the Brazilian Society of Hansenology (SBH). It continues to be used in the project’s second phase, which provides practical training in municipalities in the interior of Mato Grosso. In each municipality, an experienced Hansen’s disease specialist works alongside two recently trained specialists for one week. The programme will comprise 32 weeks of training across 32 municipalities during the following 20 months. All this work is coordinated by the Mato Grosso State School of Public Health, with support from SBH.

The two-page form brings together the main components of the clinical examination. It provides a systematic framework for recording symptoms, ocular and nasal findings, peripheral nerve assessment, sensory testing, muscle strength, skin lesions, disability grade, and the number of affected nerves. Anatomical diagrams support the documentation of the distribution of clinical findings.

The purpose is to help clinicians organize and document the examination, with particular attention to findings that may be overlooked when assessment focuses mainly on conspicuous skin lesions. We hope it will also be useful for clinical teaching, contact examination, active case-finding activities, and communication between professionals.

FORMHANSEN draws inspiration from the Brazilian Simplified Neurological Assessment (Avaliação Neurológica Simplificada — ANS). Its accompanying guides explain how to complete each section and interpret the recording conventions. The form supports clinical reasoning while leaving the diagnostic decision with the examining clinician.

The materials were developed by Claudio Guedes Salgado, MD, PhD, Nadime Sofia Fraiha do Rego, NP, MSc, Sâmela Miranda da Silva, PT, PhD and Patrícia Fagundes da Costa, BSc, PhD, all from LDI/UFPA. Both language versions and their completion guides are free to use, with citation of the source.

Bibliographic reference:

Salgado CG, Rego NSF, Silva SM, Costa PF. FORMHANSEN: Neurodermatological Assessment Form for Hansen’s Disease. Portuguese and English forms and completion guides. Zenodo; 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23325712.

Download the forms and guides:
https://zenodo.org/records/23325712

Colleagues are welcome to share these materials with clinical teams, teaching institutions, and others involved in Hansen’s disease care and control. We would welcome comments and suggestions from the LML community, particularly regarding their use in different clinical, training, and field settings.

Our aim is to contribute a practical resource that reinforces the central role of careful neurodermatological examination in recognizing and documenting Hansen’s disease.

Kind regards,

Claudio Salgado

====================================================

Claudio Guedes Salgado, MD, PhD

Full Professor
Institute of Biological Sciences
Federal University of Pará
Coordinator of the Biological Sciences II Area at CAPES, Brazil
Former President of Brazil Hansen's Disease Society (SBH), 2018-2023
International Relations Advisor for the SBH
Elected Councillor for the Americas 2025–2028 International Leprosy Association (ILA)
Dermato-Immunology Lab
Av. João Paulo II, 113
Bairro: Dom Aristides
Marituba - Pará - Brasil
CEP: 67200-000
Phone: +55-91-3201-7033
Cell phone: +55-91-991465641

E-mails: csalgado@ufpa.br and claudioguedessalgado@gmail.com

Lattes CV (Brazil format): http://lattes.cnpq.br/2310734509396125

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3961-7764

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudio-guedes-salgado/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiosalgado/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claudioguedessalgado

Map to the Lab: https://goo.gl/maps/7omyd54wy7z

===================================================

____________________________________________________________________________

LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << edit...@gmail.com

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Fw: Ref.: (LML) Honouring the Leprosy Mandate. Its Legacy and the Future of Human Rights and NTDs

From: Pieter AM Schreuder <impieter@hotmail.com>
Sent: 21 October 2026 15:33
To: aifo.bologna.hansen@blogger.com <aifo.bologna.hansen@blogger.com>; Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative <hansen@shf.or.jp>
Subject: Fw: Ref.: (LML) Honouring the Leprosy Mandate. Its Legacy and the Future of Human Rights and NTDs

Leprosy Mailing List – October 21, 2026

Ref.: (LML) Honouring the Leprosy Mandate. Its Legacy and the Future of Human Rights and NTDs

From: Zoica Bakirtzief, São Paulo, Brazil

____________________________________________________________________________

Invitation:

Honouring the Leprosy Mandate
Its Legacy and the Future of Human Rights and NTDs
A side event during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly

Dear Friends, Partners and Colleagues,

For nearly a decade, the UN mandate on discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members has brought their experience into the international human rights system. It has documented discriminatory laws and practices, and given persons affected a voice at the United Nations. As the mandate concludes, the Human Rights Council has adopted its first resolution on human rights and neglected tropical diseases (62/21). OHCHR is now preparing a report on the subject.

Join the Special Rapporteur, Member States, WHO, persons affected and civil society. Together we will recognise what the mandate achieved, and discuss how its legacy can shape what comes next.

When: Friday 23 October 2026, 12:00 to 13:30 New York time (18:00 to 19:30 CEST)
Where: Bahá'í International Community, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120, New York, opposite UN Headquarters
Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85241243015

Organised by IDEA International, CIOMAL and The Leprosy Mission International, with the UN Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members.

See flyer attached.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invitation : Hommage au mandat sur la lèpre
Son héritage et l’avenir des droits humains et des maladies tropicales négligées (MTN)
Événement parallèle à la 81e session de l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies

Chers Amis, Partenaires et Collègues,

Depuis près de dix ans, le mandat des Nations Unies consacré à l’élimination de la discrimination à l’égard des personnes touchées par la lèpre et des membres de leur famille a permis de faire entendre leur voix au sein du système international des droits humains. Il a notamment documenté les lois et pratiques discriminatoires et donné aux personnes concernées la possibilité de s’exprimer aux Nations Unies.

Alors que ce mandat touche à sa fin, le Conseil des droits de l’homme a adopté sa première résolution sur les droits humains et les maladies tropicales négligées (62/21). Le Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme prépare actuellement un rapport sur cette question.

Nous vous invitons à rejoindre la Rapporteuse spéciale, les États membres, l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS), les personnes concernées et les représentants de la société civile.

Ensemble, nous reviendrons sur les réalisations de ce mandat et réfléchirons à la manière dont son héritage pourra contribuer aux prochaines avancées en matière de droits humains.

Date : vendredi 23 octobre 2026, de 12h00 à 13h30 (heure de New York), soit de 18h00 à 19h30 (heure suisse).

Lieu : Bahá'í International Community, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120, New York, en face du siège des Nations Unies.

Participation en ligne : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85241243015

Événement organisé par IDEA International, CIOMAL et The Leprosy Mission International, en collaboration avec la Rapporteuse spéciale des Nations Unies sur l’élimination de la discrimination à l’égard des personnes touchées par la lèpre et des membres de leur famille.

Jimmy Thiébaud

Secrétaire Général

Adresse: 10 Rue du Vieux-Collège - 1204 Genève

Direct: +41 22 733 22 52

Mob: +41 76 323 66 54

www.ciomal.org

____________________________________________________________________________

LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << edit...@gmail.com

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Leprosy Mailing List" group.
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Fw: Ref.: (LML) FORMHANSEN: neurodermatological assessment form and completion guide in Portuguese and English

Leprosy Mailing List – October 21, 2026

Ref.: (LML) FORMHANSEN: neurodermatological assessment form and completion guide in Portuguese and English

From: Claudio Salgado, Marituba, Brazil

____________________________________________________________________________

Dear Pieter and LML colleagues,

Bibliographic reference:

Download the forms and guides:
https://zenodo.org/records/23325712

Our aim is to contribute a practical resource that reinforces the central role of careful neurodermatological examination in recognizing and documenting Hansen’s disease.

Kind regards,

Claudio Salgado

====================================================

Claudio Guedes Salgado, MD, PhD

E-mails: csalgado@ufpa.br and claudioguedessalgado@gmail.com

Lattes CV (Brazil format): http://lattes.cnpq.br/2310734509396125

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3961-7764

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudio-guedes-salgado/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiosalgado/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claudioguedessalgado

Map to the Lab: https://goo.gl/maps/7omyd54wy7z

===================================================

____________________________________________________________________________

LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << edit...@gmail.com

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Leprosy Mailing List" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to leprosymailinglist+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
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Leprosy Mailing List Blog

Pages

Monday, November 2, 2026

Fw: Ref.: (LML) Infolep monthly overview of new publications on leprosy. October, 2026

Friday, October 23, 2026

Fw: Ref.: (LML) The self-defence printed card

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Fw: Ref.: (LML) FORMHANSEN: neurodermatological assessment form and completion guide in Portuguese and English

Fw: Ref.: (LML) Honouring the Leprosy Mandate. Its Legacy and the Future of Human Rights and NTDs

Fw: Ref.: (LML) FORMHANSEN: neurodermatological assessment form and completion guide in Portuguese and English

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