| mycobacterium leprae in six-banded (euphractus sexcinctus) and nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) in northeast brazil. | human beings are the main reservoir of the causative agent of leprosy, mycobacterium leprae. in the americas, nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) also act as a reservoir for the bacillus. in the state of ceará (ce), which is located in northeast brazil and is an endemic area of leprosy, there are several species of armadillos, including d. novemcinctus and euphractus sexcinctus (six-banded armadillo). contact between humans and armadillos occur mainly through hunting, cleaning, prepari ... | 2012 | 23283473 |