1881 30 July 185/2 The lepra bacilli are best rendered visible by staining with fuchsin.
1921 (ed. 7) xxxvi. 508 Many apparently unsuccessful attempts have been made to cultivate the lepra bacillus.
1994 18 614 table One man had neural leprosy and developed nodular leprosy, with lepra bacilli visible in damaged tissue, in the blue part of his tattoo.