Do armadillos carry leprosy

Yes. They are the only mammals besides Man known to be able to carry the leprosy virus. Recent research indicates that armadillos and human victims of leprosy are the only ones to naturally share a particular bacterium that can cause leprosy. Interestingly, not all species of armadillos seem to carry the virus. People in Texas and other southern U.S. States have been infected with the disease as a result of handling of nine-banded armadillos. This has not occurred whe people have handled the five-banded armadillo.