Abstract: Ten tupaias were infected with 5.0×10⁴～2.67×10⁷M.leprae by diferent routes,intravenous and subcutaneous (fore and hind foot pads,nose,ears)or intratesticular inoculation.These animals were sacrificed 373～786 days after infection,the average time were 546 days.Large patches of leprous granulomatous infiltration,containing a large number of acid fast bacili(AFB) were found at the inoculated sites by histopathological examination.The morphologic indices(MI) of most AFB were greater than 40%,and the bacterial indices(BI) ranged 5+～6+.The dermal nerves showed“onion skin-like”appearance and were severely destroyed with large numbers of AFB and globi.It looks like borderline lepromatous leprosy in tissue sections.The bacili in the foot pads of tupaia increased up to 5.97×10⁹/g of tissue.Acording to the histopathological observation and bacteriological determination,it is proved that experimental leprosy model in tupaia has been established.

Key words: Leprosy, Mycobacterium leprae, Tupaidae