Evidence from archaeological sites in the medieval English city of Winchester shows that English red squirrels once served as an important host for Mycobacterium lepraestrains that caused leprosy in people according to a study published in the journal Current Biology.
Red squirrels
Red squirrels are small mammals with reddish-brown fur, although their coat color can vary from wheaten to ginger to dark brown.
They have a bushy tail, and their ears are pointed with tufts of fur in the winter.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae.
Leprosy primarily affects the skin, nerves, eyes, and the lining of the nose.
Other symtoms
Pale, painless skin lesions that can appear anywhere on the body
Loss of sensation in the affected areas
Muscle weakness
Numbness in the hands and feet
Thickening of the skin
Enlarged lymph node.
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