Patients with the most heavily infected and severe manifestation of leprosy, LL, had higher serum sCD163 levels than both households contacts of patients (contacts) (p<0.001, Mann-Whitney test) and patients presenting with tuberculoid leprosy (TT) (p = 0,001, Mann-Whitney test), indeterminate leprosy (IL) (p = 0.01, Mann-Whitney test) or borderline leprosy (BL) (p = 0.0009, Mann-Whitney test) (Fig 1A). The gene discussed is CD163; the disease is leprosy.