| leporipoxvirus | A genus of the family poxviridae, subfamily chordopoxvirinae, consisting of ether-sensitive viruses of leporids and squirrels. They commonly cause tumours and are usually transmitted mechanically by arthropods. Myxoma virus is the type species. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| lepothrix | Synonym: trichomycosis axillaris. Origin: G. Lepos, rind, husk, + thrix, hair (05 Mar 2000) |
| lepra | <medicine> Leprosy. The term lepra was formerly given to various skin diseases, the leprosy of modern authors being Lepra Arabum. See Leprosy. Origin: L. See Leper. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lepra cells | Distinctive, large, mononuclear phagocytes (macrophages) with a foamlike cytoplasm, and also poorly staining saclike structures resulting from degeneration of such cell's, observed characteristically in leprous inflammatory reactions; indistinct staining results from numerous, fairly closely packed leprosy bacilli, which are acid-fast and resistant to staining by ordinary methods but may be vividly demonstrated by acid-fast staining procedures. (05 Mar 2000) |
| leprechaunism | A congenital form of dwarfism characterised by extreme growth retardation, endocrine disorders, and emaciation, with elfin facies and large low-set ears; autosomal recessive inheritance. Synonym: Donohue's disease, Donohue's syndrome. Origin: Irish leprechaun, elf (05 Mar 2000) |
| leprid | Early cutaneous lesion of leprosy. Origin: G. Lepra, leprosy, + -id (05 Mar 2000) |
| leprologist | A physician who specialises in the study of leprosy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| leprology | The science and study of leprosy. Origin: G. Lepra, leprosy, + logos, study (05 Mar 2000) |
| leproma | A fairly well-circumscribed discrete focus of granulomatous inflammation, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which consists chiefly of an accumulation of large mononuclear phagocytic cells in which the cytoplasm seems finely vacuolated (i.e., foam cells); the foamlike character of the macrophages is related to the engulfing of numerous acid-fast organisms. Origin: G. Lepros, scaly, + -oma, tumour (05 Mar 2000) |
| lepromatous | Pertaining to, or characterised by, the features of a leproma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lepromatous leprosy | A form of leprosy in which nodular cutaneous lesions are infiltrated, have ill-defined borders, and are bacteriologically positive; the lepromin test is negative, i.e., the immunologic mechanism of the patient is not responsive to the Mycobacterium leprae infection. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lepromin | An extract of tissue infected with Mycobacterium leprae used in skin tests to classify the stage of leprosy. See: lepromin reaction, test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lepromin reaction | A delayed hypersensitivity reaction at the site of an intradermal injection of a lepromin, such as the Dharmendra antigen or Mitsuda antigen, in a lepromin test; the reaction's, such as the Fernandez or Mitsuda reaction, are variable, occurring in 48 hours or three to five weeks, but are uniformly negative in lepromatous leprosy, borderline leprosy, and mid-borderline leprosy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lepromin skin test | <investigation> A test for leprosy where an extract of infected tissue (antigen) is injected under the skin to determine if you have a current or recent leprosy infection. Normally, little or no skin reaction should result from the injection. A positive skin reaction indicates a leprosy infection. (27 Sep 1997) |
| lepromin test | A test utilizing an intradermal injection of a lepromin, such as the Dharmendra antigen or Mitsuda antigen, to classify the stage of leprosy based on the lepromin reaction, such as the Fernandez reaction or Mitsuda reaction; it differentiates tuberculoid leprosy, in which there is a positive delayed reaction at the injection site, from lepromatous leprosy, in which there is no reaction (i.e., a negative test result) despite the active malignant Mycobacterium leprae infection; the test is not diagnostic, since normal uninfected persons may react. (05 Mar 2000) |