Quote Originally Posted by tyger View Post
Actually, they don't contract leprosy because they do not develop the disease. They do get infected, and they do (can) become carriers of the mycobacterium. A fine distinction, but an important one we should all remember. There is a world of difference between getting an infection, and developing a disease.
True...I was a bit careless with my language.

However, humans can indeed contract Hanson's from contact with armadillos, as was demonstrated by the poor saps who did just that after they went into business collecting dillos for the Hanson's research unit that used to operate out of Carrville, Louisiana.