What are armadillo diseases?

Armadillos are subject to leprosy and are one of the few nonhuman species affected. Armadillos also serve as a natural reservoir for Chagas disease, a tropical disease caused by microscopic parasites.

Transmission of leprosy from armadillos to humans is possible but rare. Most people infected this way either handled armadillos or ate their meat, which is considered a delicacy in parts of Latin America. Armadillos are used for biomedical research on leprosy and for studying organ transplants and birth defects. The nine-banded armadillo always produces four identical offspring per litter from a single fertilized egg and is used for research on reproduction.