<em>Mycobacterium</em> <em>leprae</em> is the causative organism for Hansen's disease (leprosy).
<em>Mycobacterium leprae</em> is a rod-shaped bacteria which is quite common in warm tropical countries.
It is an intracellular pathogen which can cause an either tuberculoid or lepromatous form of leprosy with an incubation period varying from 9 months to 20 years.
The bacteria are capable of affecting the skin, eyes, nerves, etc.
The disease can be treated effectively however if left untreated the bacteria are capable of causing a crippling nerve damage.
