The epidemiological consequences of leprosy-tuberculosis co-infection

► Leprosy-tuberculosis co-infection can explain the historical decline of leprosy. ► Epidemiological consequences are assessed for realistically confined parameter values. ► Classical ODE model is combined with simulations of an interacting particle system (IPS). ► The IPS is related to the ODE model by a mean-field approximation procedure. ► Robustness of long-time behavior with respect to spatial effects is demonstrated.