ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2015
Source tracking Mycobacterium ulcerans infections in the Ashanti region, Ghana.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers.
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 46 citations in OpenAlex.
- Integrated action for skin NTDs: Deconstructing transmission, addressing knowledge gaps, and championing one health strategies.Nature communications · 2026Review
- One Health implementation in Ghana: a perspective on policy development and institutional change.Frontiers in public health · 2026Review
- In Silico Identification of Potential Biomarker-Binding Proteins for Noninvasive Diagnosis of Buruli Ulcer Disease.Bioinformatics and biology insights · 2026Article
- Buruli ulcer community health education and medical screening in Ga South District, Ghana.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Buruli ulcer surveillance in south-eastern Australian possums: Infection status, lesion mapping and internal distribution of Mycobacterium ulcerans.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2024Article
- Systematic review: Global host range, case fatality and detection rates ofJournal of clinical tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases · 2024Review
- What about Current Diversity of Mycolactone-Producing Mycobacteria? Implication for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Buruli Ulcer.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Review
- ProfilingFuture science OA · 2023Review
- Floristic Diversity as an Indicator in Low and High Endemic Buruli Ulcer Areas in Côte d'Ivoire.International journal of environmental research · 2023Article
- Variable Number Tandem Repeat Profiling ofFrontiers in microbiology · 2022Article
- Linking theOne health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2021Review
- Community-based geographical distribution of Mycobacterium ulcerans VNTR-genotypes from the environment and humans in the Nyong valley, Cameroon.Tropical medicine and health · 2021Article
- Microbiology of secondary infections in Buruli ulcer lesions; implications for therapeutic interventions.BMC microbiology · 2021Article
- Tracing Mycobacterium ulcerans along an alimentary chain in Côte d'Ivoire: A one health perspective.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2020Article
- Translocating Mycobacterium ulcerans: An experimental model.PloS one · 2020Article
- The changing epidemiology worldwide ofEpidemiology and infection · 2018Article
- Domestic animals infected with Mycobacterium ulcerans-Implications for transmission to humans.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2018Article
- Perception and incidence of Buruli ulcer in Ogun State, South West Nigeria: intensive epidemiological survey and public health intervention recommended.The Pan African medical journal · 2018Article
- Buruli Ulcer, a Prototype for Ecosystem-Related Infection, Caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans.Clinical microbiology reviews · 2018Review
- Global and local environmental changes as drivers of Buruli ulcer emergence.Emerging microbes & infections · 2017Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
Although several studies have associated Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU) infection, Buruli ulcer (BU), with slow moving water bodies, there is still no definite mode of transmission. Ecological and transmission studies suggest Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) typing as a useful tool to differentiate MU strains from other Mycolactone Producing Mycobacteria (MPM). Deciphering the genetic relatedness of clinical and environmental isolates is seminal to determining reservoirs, vectors and transmission routes. In this study, we attempted to source-track MU infections to specific water bodies by matching VNTR profiles of MU in human samples to those in the environment. Environmental samples were collected from 10 water bodies in four BU endemic communities in the Ashanti region, Ghana. Four VNTR loci in MU Agy99 genome, were used to genotype environmental MU ecovars, and those from 14 confirmed BU patients within the same study area. Length polymorphism was confirmed with sequencing. MU was present in the 3 different types of water bodies, but significantly higher in biofilm samples. Four MU genotypes, designated W, X, Y and Z, were typed in both human and environmental samples. Other reported genotypes were only found in water bodies. Animal trapping identified 1 mouse with lesion characteristic of BU, which was confirmed as MU infection. Our findings suggest that patients may have been infected from community associated water bodies. Further, we present evidence that small mammals within endemic communities could be susceptible to MU infections. M. ulcerans transmission could involve several routes where humans have contact with risk environments, which may be further compounded by water bodies acting as vehicles for disseminating strains.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.