Clinical characteristics of freshly diagnosed, untreated leprosy patients and healthy contacts of patients and healthy skin (from cosmetic surgery) included in study.

BT: borderline tuberculoid leprosy, LL: polar lepromatous leprosy, as per Ridley Jopling classification [2], HC; healthy contacts exposed to leprosy patients to 1–2 years. BI: Bacillary Index (mean of six lesional sites). M; male, F; female. Healthy skin; patients undergoing cosmetic surgery for burns were also included as controls.