LSU Veterinary School professor was awarded a research grant allowing them to continue their research in studying the transmission of leprosy by arthropods. In this case, Dr. Kevin Macaluso, who is leading the reasarch, is looking into the transmission of leprosy through ticks. 
Leprosy is commonly found in wild armadillos. A large focus of Dr. Macaluso’s research is looking into patients who have contracted leprosy that have had little to no contact with armadillos.
The common factor between the armadillos and the infected patients is the Amblyomma tick.
“What we intend to do is infect ticks and determine if they can maintain the infection and then also transmit it to a new host,” says Dr. Macaluso. 
Dr. Macaluso is not working alone. Besides his team, Dr. Macaluso is working with Richard Truman, MS, PhD, and the National Hansen’s Disease Program, which is the leprosy research center for the U.S. 
If Dr. Macaluso and his team are able that leprosy can be spread from host to host through ticks, this can change the way the disease is treated.