An international team led by researchers at Colorado State University has found that human contact with wild armadillos — including eating the meat — has contributed to extremely high infection rates of a pathogen that can cause leprosy in Pará, Brazil.

Mycobacterium leprae can cause leprosy, a chronic disease characterized by lesions of the skin and nerve damage, in humans. Other researchers have previously documented transmission of M. leprae to humans by nine-banded armadillos in the southern United States.

The findings from this new research have implications for public health education programs related to these mammals and zoonotic transmission, or the spread of infection between animals and people. //

But the most startling finding was in people who ate armadillo meat frequently — more than once a month and, in some cases, twice a week. The strength of the antibody in these individuals was 50 percent higher than the other groups. //

Spencer recommends wearing gloves when cleaning the carcass, and make sure to cook the meat until it is well-done.

“Your risk of picking up the disease from eating well-cooked meat is almost zero,” he said.