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Isolation and Genomic Analysis of an Intracellular Mycobacterium gordonae from a Free-Living
Acanthamoeba
sp. in a Hospital Environment in Lima, Peru. Microbiol Resour Announc 2022; 11:e0078422. [PMID: 36250863 PMCID: PMC9670939 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00784-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium gordonae is a nontuberculous mycobacterium found in diverse environments and is considered an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised patients. We report the draft genome sequence of a Mycobacterium gordonae strain isolated from a free-living amoeba found in a nosocomial environment in Lima, Peru.
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Receveur JP, Bauer A, Pechal JL, Picq S, Dogbe M, Jordan HR, Rakestraw AW, Fast K, Sandel M, Chevillon C, Guégan JF, Wallace JR, Benbow ME. A need for null models in understanding disease transmission: the example of Mycobacterium ulcerans (Buruli ulcer disease). FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:fuab045. [PMID: 34468735 PMCID: PMC8767449 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the interactions of ecosystems, humans and pathogens is important for disease risk estimation. This is particularly true for neglected and newly emerging diseases where modes and efficiencies of transmission leading to epidemics are not well understood. Using a model for other emerging diseases, the neglected tropical skin disease Buruli ulcer (BU), we systematically review the literature on transmission of the etiologic agent, Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), within a One Health/EcoHealth framework and against Hill's nine criteria and Koch's postulates for making strong inference in disease systems. Using this strong inference approach, we advocate a null hypothesis for MU transmission and other understudied disease systems. The null should be tested against alternative vector or host roles in pathogen transmission to better inform disease management. We propose a re-evaluation of what is necessary to identify and confirm hosts, reservoirs and vectors associated with environmental pathogen replication, dispersal and transmission; critically review alternative environmental sources of MU that may be important for transmission, including invertebrate and vertebrate species, plants and biofilms on aquatic substrates; and conclude with placing BU within the context of other neglected and emerging infectious diseases with intricate ecological relationships that lead to disease in humans, wildlife and domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph P Receveur
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Alexandra Bauer
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jennifer L Pechal
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Sophie Picq
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Magdalene Dogbe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
| | - Heather R Jordan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
| | - Alex W Rakestraw
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, The University of West Alabama, Livingston, AL, USA
| | - Kayla Fast
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, The University of West Alabama, Livingston, AL, USA
| | - Michael Sandel
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, The University of West Alabama, Livingston, AL, USA
| | - Christine Chevillon
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs : Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle (MIVEGEC), Université de Montpellier (UM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-François Guégan
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs : Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle (MIVEGEC), Université de Montpellier (UM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement, Montpellier, France
- UMR Animal, santé, territoires, risques et écosystèmes, Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (INRAE), Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (Cirad), Université de Montpellier (UM), Montpellier, France
| | - John R Wallace
- Department of Biology, Millersville University, Millersville, PA, USA
| | - M Eric Benbow
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- AgBioResearch, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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3
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Linking the Mycobacterium ulcerans environment to Buruli ulcer disease: Progress and challenges. One Health 2021; 13:100311. [PMID: 34485670 PMCID: PMC8403752 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Buruli ulcer (BU), the second most common mycobacterial disease in West Africa, is a necrotizing skin disease that can lead to high morbidity in affected patients. The disease is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), whose major virulence factor is mycolactone. Although early infection can be treated with antibiotics, an effective preventative strategy is challenging due to unknown reservoir(s) and unresolved mode(s) of transmission. Further, disease occurrence in remote locations with limited access to health facilities further complicates disease burden and associated costs. We discuss here MU transmission hypotheses and investigations into environmental reservoirs and discuss successes and challenges of studying MU and Buruli ulcer across human, animal, and environmental interfaces. We argue that a One Health approach is needed to advance the understanding of MU transmission and designing management scenarios that prevent and respond to epidemics. Although previous work has provided significant insights into risk factors, epidemiology and clinical perspectives of disease, understanding the bacterial ecology, environmental niches and role of mycolactone in natural environments and during infection of the human host remains equally important to better understanding and preventing this mysterious disease.
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Muleta AJ, Lappan R, Stinear TP, Greening C. Understanding the transmission of Mycobacterium ulcerans: A step towards controlling Buruli ulcer. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009678. [PMID: 34437549 PMCID: PMC8389476 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium ulcerans is the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, a rare but chronic debilitating skin and soft tissue disease found predominantly in West Africa and Southeast Australia. While a moderate body of research has examined the distribution of M. ulcerans, the specific route(s) of transmission of this bacterium remain unknown, hindering control efforts. M. ulcerans is considered an environmental pathogen given it is associated with lentic ecosystems and human-to-human spread is negligible. However, the pathogen is also carried by various mammals and invertebrates, which may serve as key reservoirs and mechanical vectors, respectively. Here, we examine and review recent evidence from these endemic regions on potential transmission pathways, noting differences in findings between Africa and Australia, and summarising the risk and protective factors associated with Buruli ulcer transmission. We also discuss evidence suggesting that environmental disturbance and human population changes precede outbreaks. We note five key research priorities, including adoption of One Health frameworks, to resolve transmission pathways and inform control strategies to reduce the spread of Buruli ulcer. Buruli ulcer is a debilitating skin and soft tissue disease characterised by large ulcerative wounds that are treated with antibiotics or with adjunctive surgery for advanced cases. Found predominantly in West Africa and Southeast Australia, the causative agent is the environmental bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium ulcerans. Lack of understanding of transmission pathways, combined with the absence of a vaccine, has hindered efforts to control the spread of M. ulcerans. Here, in order to identify probable transmission pathways and inform future studies, we review literature linking M. ulcerans to environmental reservoirs, mammalian hosts, and potential invertebrate vectors. We also summarise factors and behaviours that reduce the risk of developing Buruli ulcer, to inform effective prevention strategies and further shed light on transmission pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J. Muleta
- Department of Microbiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Rachael Lappan
- Department of Microbiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Timothy P. Stinear
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Pushkareva VI, Podlipaeva JI, Goodkov AV, Ermolaeva SA. Experimental Listeria-Tetrahymena-Amoeba food chain functioning depends on bacterial virulence traits. BMC Ecol 2019; 19:47. [PMID: 31757213 PMCID: PMC6874821 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-019-0265-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Some pathogenic bacteria have been developing as a part of terrestrial and aquatic microbial ecosystems. Bacteria are consumed by bacteriovorous protists which are readily consumed by larger organisms. Being natural predators, protozoa are also an instrument for selection of virulence traits in bacteria. Moreover, protozoa serve as a “Trojan horse” that deliver pathogens to the human body. Here, we suggested that carnivorous amoebas feeding on smaller bacteriovorous protists might serve as “Troy” themselves when pathogens are delivered to them with their preys. A dual role might be suggested for protozoa in the development of traits required for bacterial passage along the food chain. Results A model food chain was developed. Pathogenic bacteria L. monocytogenes or related saprophytic bacteria L. innocua constituted the base of the food chain, bacteriovorous ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis was an intermediate consumer, and carnivorous amoeba Amoeba proteus was a consumer of the highest order. The population of A. proteus demonstrated variations in behaviour depending on whether saprophytic or virulent Listeria was used to feed the intermediate consumer, T. pyriformis. Feeding of A. proteus with T. pyriformis that grazed on saprophytic bacteria caused prevalence of pseudopodia-possessing hungry amoebas. Statistically significant prevalence of amoebas with spherical morphology typical for fed amoebas was observed when pathogenic L. monocytogenes were included in the food chain. Moreover, consumption of tetrahymenas fed with saprophytic L. innocua improved growth of A. proteus population while L. monocytogenes-filled tetrahymenas provided negative effect. Both pathogenic and saprophytic bacteria were delivered to A. proteus alive but only L. monocytogenes multiplied within amoebas. Observed differences in A. proteus population behaviour suggested that virulent L. monocytogenes might slow down restoration of A. proteus ability to hunt again and thus restrict the size of A. proteus population. Comparison of isogenic bacterial pairs that did or did not produce the haemolysin listeriolysin O (LLO) suggested a role for LLO in passing L. monocytogenes along the food chain. Conclusions Our results support the idea of protozoa as a means of pathogen delivery to consumers of a higher order and demonstrated a dual role of protozoa as both a “Trojan horse” and “Troy.”
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina I Pushkareva
- Gamaleya Research Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Gamaleya st. 18, Moscow, 123098, Russia
| | - Julia I Podlipaeva
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrew V Goodkov
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Svetlana A Ermolaeva
- Gamaleya Research Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Gamaleya st. 18, Moscow, 123098, Russia. .,National Research Centre on Virology and Microbiology, Pokrov, Russia.
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A protocol for culturing environmental strains of the Buruli ulcer agent, Mycobacterium ulcerans. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6778. [PMID: 29712992 PMCID: PMC5928104 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25278-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Contaminations and fastidiousness of M. ulcerans may have both hamper isolation of strains from environmental sources. We aimed to optimize decontamination and culture of environmental samples to circumvent both limitations. Three strains of M. ulcerans cultured onto Middlebrook 7H10 at 30 °C for 20 days yielded a significantly higher number of colonies in micro-aerophilic atmosphere compared to ambient atmosphere, 5% CO2 and anaerobic atmosphere. In a second step, we observed that M. ulcerans genome uniquely encoded chitinase, fucosidase and A-D-GlcNAc-diphosphoryl polyprenol A-3-L-rhamnosyl transferase giving M. ulcerans the potential to metabolize chitine, fucose and N-acetyl galactosamine (NAG), respectively. A significant growth-promoting effect of 0.2 mg/mL chitin (p < 0.05), 0.01 mg/mL N-acetyl galactosamine (p < 0.05), 0.01 mg/mL fucose (p < 0.05) was observed with M. ulcerans indicating that NAG alone or combined with fucose and chitin could complement Middlebrook 7H10. Finally, the protocol combining 1% chlorhexidine decontamination with micro-aerophilic incubation on Middlebrook 7H10 medium containing chitin (0.2%), NAG (0.01%) and fucose (0.01%) medium and auto-fluorescence detection of colonies allowed for the isolation of one mycolactone-encoding strain from Thryonomys swinderianus (aulacode) feces specimens collected near the Kossou Dam, Côte d'Ivoire. We propose that incubation of chlorhexidine-decontaminated environmental specimens on Middlebrook 7H10-enriched medium under micro-aerophilic atmosphere at 30 °C may be used for the tentative isolation of M. ulcerans strains from potential environmental sources.
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Paling S, Wahyuni R, Ni'matuzahroh, Winarni D, Iswahyudi, Astari L, Adriaty D, Agusni I, Izumi S. ACANTHAMOEBA SP.S-11 PHAGOCYTOTIC ACTIVITY ON MYCOBACTERIUM LEPRAE IN DIFFERENT NUTRIENT CONDITIONS. Afr J Infect Dis 2018; 12:44-48. [PMID: 29619429 PMCID: PMC5876777 DOI: 10.2101/ajid.12v1s.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) is a pathogenic bacterium that causes leprosy. The presence of M. leprae in the environment is supported by microorganisms that act as the new host for M. leprae. Acanthamoeba’s potential to be a host of M. leprae in the environment. Acanthamoeba sp. is Free Living Amoeba (FLA) that classified as holozoic, saprophytic, and saprozoic. The existence of nutrients in the environment influence Acanthamoeba ability to phagocytosis or pinocytosis. This study is aimed to determine Acanthamoeba sp.S-11 phagocytic activity to Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) which cultured in non-nutrient media and riched-nutrient media. Materials and Methods: This research conducted by culturing Acanthamoeba sp.S-11 and M. leprae on different nutrient media conditions. M. leprae intracellular DNA were isolated and amplified by M. leprae specific primers through Real Time PCR (Q-PCR). Result: The results showed that Acanthamoeba co-cultured on non-nutrient media were more active to phagocyte M. leprae than on rich-nutrient media. Conclusion: The use of non-nutrient media is recommended to optimize Acanthamoeba sp. phagocytic activity to M. leprae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepling Paling
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
| | - Ratna Wahyuni
- Leprosy Study Group, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
| | - Ni'matuzahroh
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
| | - Dwi Winarni
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
| | - Iswahyudi
- Leprosy Study Group, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
| | - Linda Astari
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60286, Indonesia
| | - Dinar Adriaty
- Leprosy Study Group, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
| | - Indropo Agusni
- Leprosy Study Group, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia.,Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60286, Indonesia
| | - Shinzo Izumi
- Leprosy Study Group, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
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Buruli Ulcer, a Prototype for Ecosystem-Related Infection, Caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Clin Microbiol Rev 2017; 31:31/1/e00045-17. [PMID: 29237707 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00045-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Buruli ulcer is a noncontagious disabling cutaneous and subcutaneous mycobacteriosis reported by 33 countries in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America. The causative agent, Mycobacterium ulcerans, derives from Mycobacterium marinum by genomic reduction and acquisition of a plasmid-borne, nonribosomal cytotoxin mycolactone, the major virulence factor. M. ulcerans-specific sequences have been readily detected in aquatic environments in food chains involving small mammals. Skin contamination combined with any type of puncture, including insect bites, is the most plausible route of transmission, and skin temperature of <30°C significantly correlates with the topography of lesions. After 30 years of emergence and increasing prevalence between 1970 and 2010, mainly in Africa, factors related to ongoing decreasing prevalence in the same countries remain unexplained. Rapid diagnosis, including laboratory confirmation at the point of care, is mandatory in order to reduce delays in effective treatment. Parenteral and potentially toxic streptomycin-rifampin is to be replaced by oral clarithromycin or fluoroquinolone combined with rifampin. In the absence of proven effective primary prevention, avoiding skin contamination by means of clothing can be implemented in areas of endemicity. Buruli ulcer is a prototype of ecosystem pathology, illustrating the impact of human activities on the environment as a source for emerging tropical infectious diseases.
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Bouam A, Ghigo E, Drancourt M. Intra-amoebal killing of Mycobacterium ulcerans by Acanthamoeba griffini: A co-culture model. Microb Pathog 2017; 114:1-7. [PMID: 29155010 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2017.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Mycobacterium ulcerans, a decaying Mycobacterium marinum derivative is responsible for Buruli ulcer, a notifiable non-contagious disabling infection highly prevalent in some West African countries. Aquatic environments are suspected to host M. ulcerans, however, the exact reservoirs remain unknown. While M. marinum was found to resist amoebal microbicidal activities, this remains unknown for M. ulcerans. In this study M. ulcerans was co-cultured with the moderately halophile Acanthamoeba griffini at 30 °C to probe this tropical amoeba as a potential reservoir for M. ulcerans. In triplicate experiments, we observed engulfment of M. ulcerans by A. griffini trophozoites, followed by an unexpected significant difference of 98.4% (day 1), 99.5% (day 2), 99.5% (day 3) and 99.9% (day 7) between the number of intra-amoebal mycobacteria detected by PCR and the number of viable intra-amoebal mycobacteria measured by 10-week culture. Further encystment revealed only one Mycobacterium organism for 150 A. griffini cysts observed by electron microscopy and the culture of excysted amoebae remained sterile. In conclusion, these data install M. ulcerans as susceptible to A. griffini microbicidal activities rendering this amoeba species an unlikely host of M. ulcerans in natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amar Bouam
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UMR CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille 13005, France
| | - Eric Ghigo
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UMR CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille 13005, France
| | - Michel Drancourt
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UMR CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille 13005, France.
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Evidences of the Low Implication of Mosquitoes in the Transmission of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the Causative Agent of Buruli Ulcer. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY 2017; 2017:1324310. [PMID: 28932250 PMCID: PMC5592421 DOI: 10.1155/2017/1324310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Revised: 07/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background Buruli ulcer (BU) continues to be a serious public health threat in wet tropical regions and the mode of transmission of its etiological agent, Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), remains poorly understood. In this study, mosquito species collected in endemic villages in Benin were screened for the presence of MU. In addition, the ability of mosquitoes larvae to pick up MU from their environment and remain colonized through the larval developmental stages to the adult stage was investigated. Methods 7,218 adults and larvae mosquitoes were sampled from endemic and nonendemic villages and screened for MU DNA targets (IS2404, IS2606, and KR-B) using qPCR. Results. MU was not detected in any of the field collected samples. Additional studies of artificially infected larvae of Anopheles kisumu with MU strains revealed that mosquitoes larvae are able to ingest and host MU during L1, L2, L3, and L4 developmental stages. However, we noticed an absence of these bacteria at both pupae and adult stages, certainly revealing the low ability of infected or colonized mosquitoes to vertically transmit MU to their offspring. Conclusion The overall findings highlight the low implication of mosquitoes as biological vectors in the transmission cycle of MU from the risk environments to humans.
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Aboagye SY, Ampah KA, Ross A, Asare P, Otchere ID, Fyfe J, Yeboah-Manu D. Seasonal Pattern of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the Causative Agent of Buruli Ulcer, in the Environment in Ghana. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2017; 74:350-361. [PMID: 28238016 PMCID: PMC5496970 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-017-0946-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to contribute to the understanding of Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU) ecology by analysing both clinical and environmental samples collected from ten communities along two major river basins (Offin and Densu) associated with Buruli ulcer (BU) at different seasons. We collected clinical samples from presumptive BU cases and environmental samples from ten communities. Following DNA extraction, clinical samples were confirmed by IS2404 PCR and environmental samples were confirmed by targeting MU-specific genes, IS2404, IS2606 and the ketoreductase (KR) using real-time PCR. Environmental samples were first analysed for IS2404; after which, IS2404-positive samples were multiplexed for the IS2606 and KR gene. Our findings indicate an overall decline in BU incidence along both river basins, although incidence at Densu outweighs that of Offin. Overall, 1600 environmental samples were screened along Densu (434, 27 %) and Offin (1166, 73 %) and MU was detected in 139 (9 %) of the combined samples. The positivity of MU along the Densu River basin was 89/434 (20.5 %), whilst that of the Offin River basin was 50/1166 (4.3 %). The DNA was detected mainly in snails (5/6, 83 %), moss (8/40, 20 %), soil (55/586, 9 %) and vegetation (55/675, 8 %). The proportion of MU positive samples recorded was higher during the months with higher rainfall levels (126/1175, 11 %) than during the dry season months (13/425, 3 %). This study indicates for the first time that there is a seasonal pattern in the presence of MU in the environment, which may be related to recent rainfall or water in the soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Yaw Aboagye
- Bacteriology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- Institute of Environmental and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kobina Assan Ampah
- Bacteriology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Amanda Ross
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Prince Asare
- Bacteriology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Isaac Darko Otchere
- Bacteriology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Janet Fyfe
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Dorothy Yeboah-Manu
- Bacteriology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
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Meyin A Ebong S, García-Peña GE, Pluot-Sigwalt D, Marsollier L, Le Gall P, Eyangoh S, Guégan JF. Ecology and Feeding Habits Drive Infection of Water Bugs with Mycobacterium ulcerans. ECOHEALTH 2017; 14:329-341. [PMID: 28315039 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-017-1228-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2016] [Revised: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, is present in a wide spectrum of environments, including terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in tropical regions. The most promising studies on the epidemiological risk of this disease suggest that some ecological settings may favor infection of animals with MU including human. A species' needs and impacts on resources and the environment, i.e., its ecological niche, may influence its susceptibility to be infected by this microbial form. For example, some Naucoridae may dive in fresh waters to prey upon infected animals and thus may get infected with MU. However, these studies have rarely considered that inference on the ecological settings favoring infection and transmission may be confounded because host carrier sister species have similar ecological niches, and potentially the same host-microbe interactions. Hence, a relationship between the ecological niche of Naucoridae and its infection with MU may be due to a symbiotic relationship between the host and the pathogen, rather than its ecological niche. To account for this confounding effect, we investigated the relationships between surrogates of the ecological niche of water bug species and their susceptibility to MU, by performing phylogenetic comparative analyses on a large dataset of 11 families of water bugs collected in 10 different sites across Cameroon, central Africa. Our results indicate that MU circulates and infects a couple of host taxa, i.e., Belostomatidae, Naucoridae, living both in the aquatic vegetation and as predators inside the trophic network and sister species of water bugs have indeed similar host-microbe interactions with MU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solange Meyin A Ebong
- UMR MIVEGEC IRD, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Centre IRD de Montpellier, BP 64501, 34394, Montpellier Cedex, France.
- Service de Mycobactériologie, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, BP 1274, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Ecologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
| | - Gabriel E García-Peña
- UMR MIVEGEC IRD, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Centre IRD de Montpellier, BP 64501, 34394, Montpellier Cedex, France
- Centre de Synthèse et d'Analyse sur la Biodiversité (CESAB), 13857, Aix-en-Provence Cedex 3, France
| | - Dominique Pluot-Sigwalt
- Département Systématique et Evolution, UMR7205 CNRS/MNHN, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Marsollier
- Inserm Avenir ATOMycA CRCNA Inserm U892 & CNRS U6299, Université et CHU d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Philippe Le Gall
- UMR EGCE IRD, CNRS et Université Paris-Sud Orsay, Centre CNRS de Gif-sur-Yvette, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Sara Eyangoh
- Service de Mycobactériologie, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, BP 1274, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Jean-François Guégan
- UMR MIVEGEC IRD, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Centre IRD de Montpellier, BP 64501, 34394, Montpellier Cedex, France
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Azumah BK, Addo PG, Dodoo A, Awandare G, Mosi L, Boakye DA, Wilson MD. Experimental demonstration of the possible role of Acanthamoeba polyphaga in the infection and disease progression in Buruli Ulcer (BU) using ICR mice. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172843. [PMID: 28329001 PMCID: PMC5362167 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The transmission of Buruli ulcer (BU), caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), remains puzzling although a number of hypothesis including through bites of infected aquatic insects have been proposed. We report the results of experiments using ICR mice that give credence to our hypothesis that Acanthamoeba species may play a role in BU transmission. We cocultured MU N2 and MU 1615 which expresses red fluorescent protein (RFP) and Acanthamoeba polyphaga (AP), and confirmed infected AP by Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining. We tested for viability of MU inside AP and observed strong RFP signals inside both trophozoites and cysts after 3 and 42 days of coculturing respectively. ICR mice were topically treated, either on shaved intact or shaved pinpricked rumps, with one of the following; MU N2 only (2.25 x 106 colony forming units [CFU] / ml), MU N2:AP coculture (2.96 x 104 CFU: 1.6 x 106 cells/ml), AP only (1.6 x 106 cells/ml), PYG medium and sterile distilled water. Both MU N2 only and MU N2:AP elicited reddening on day (D) 31; edema on D 45 and D 44 respectively, and ulcers on D 49 at pinpricked sites only. To ascertain infectivity and pathogenicity of MU N2 only and MU N2:AP, and compare their virulence, the standard mouse footpad inoculation method was used. MU N2:AP elicited reddening in footpads by D 3 compared to D 14 with MU N2 only of the same dose of MU N2 (2.96 x 104 CFU). ZN-stained MU were observed in both thin sectioned and homogenized lesions, and aspirates from infected sites. Viable MU N2 were recovered from cultures of the homogenates and aspirates. This study demonstrates in ICR mice MU transmission via passive infection, and shows that punctures in the skin are prerequisite for infection, and that coculturing of MU with AP enhances pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bright K. Azumah
- Department of Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Phyllis G. Addo
- Department of Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- * E-mail: (PGA); (MDW)
| | - Alfred Dodoo
- Department of Electron Microscopy and Histopathology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Gordon Awandare
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Lydia Mosi
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Daniel A. Boakye
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Michael D. Wilson
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- * E-mail: (PGA); (MDW)
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Vandelannoote K, Meehan CJ, Eddyani M, Affolabi D, Phanzu DM, Eyangoh S, Jordaens K, Portaels F, Mangas K, Seemann T, Marsollier L, Marion E, Chauty A, Landier J, Fontanet A, Leirs H, Stinear TP, de Jong BC. Multiple Introductions and Recent Spread of the Emerging Human Pathogen Mycobacterium ulcerans across Africa. Genome Biol Evol 2017; 9:414-426. [PMID: 28137745 PMCID: PMC5381664 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evx003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Buruli ulcer (BU) is an insidious neglected tropical disease. Cases are reported around the world but the rural regions of West and Central Africa are most affected. How BU is transmitted and spreads has remained a mystery, even though the causative agent, Mycobacterium ulcerans, has been known for more than 70 years. Here, using the tools of population genomics, we reconstruct the evolutionary history of M. ulcerans by comparing 165 isolates spanning 48 years and representing 11 endemic countries across Africa. The genetic diversity of African M. ulcerans was found to be restricted due to the bacterium's slow substitution rate coupled with its relatively recent origin. We identified two specific M. ulcerans lineages within the African continent, and inferred that M. ulcerans lineage Mu_A1 existed in Africa for several hundreds of years, unlike lineage Mu_A2, which was introduced much more recently, approximately during the 19th century. Additionally, we observed that specific M. ulcerans epidemic Mu_A1 clones were introduced during the same time period in the three hydrological basins that were well covered in our panel. The estimated time span of the introduction events coincides with the Neo-imperialism period, during which time the European colonial powers divided the African continent among themselves. Using this temporal association, and in the absence of a known BU reservoir or-vector on the continent, we postulate that the so-called "Scramble for Africa" played a significant role in the spread of the disease across the continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen Vandelannoote
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Evolutionary Ecology Group University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Conor J. Meehan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Miriam Eddyani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Sara Eyangoh
- Service de Mycobactériologie, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Kurt Jordaens
- Evolutionary Ecology Group University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Invertebrates Section, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Françoise Portaels
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kirstie Mangas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Torsten Seemann
- Victorian Life Sciences Computation Initiative University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Estelle Marion
- CRCNA Inserm U892 CNRS 6299, CHU & Université d’Angers, Angers, France
| | | | - Jordi Landier
- Service de Mycobactériologie, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroun
- Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Arnaud Fontanet
- Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Herwig Leirs
- Evolutionary Ecology Group University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Timothy P. Stinear
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bouke C. de Jong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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Lamelas A, Ampah KA, Aboagye S, Kerber S, Danso E, Asante-Poku A, Asare P, Parkhill J, Harris SR, Pluschke G, Yeboah-Manu D, Röltgen K. Spatiotemporal Co-existence of Two Mycobacterium ulcerans Clonal Complexes in the Offin River Valley of Ghana. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004856. [PMID: 27434064 PMCID: PMC4951013 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, comparative genome sequence analysis of African Mycobacterium ulcerans strains isolated from Buruli ulcer (BU) lesion specimen has revealed a very limited genetic diversity of closely related isolates and a striking association between genotype and geographical origin of the patients. Here, we compared whole genome sequences of five M. ulcerans strains isolated in 2004 or 2013 from BU lesions of four residents of the Offin river valley with 48 strains isolated between 2002 and 2005 from BU lesions of individuals residing in the Densu river valley of Ghana. While all M. ulcerans isolates from the Densu river valley belonged to the same clonal complex, members of two distinct clonal complexes were found in the Offin river valley over space and time. The Offin strains were closely related to genotypes from either the Densu region or from the Asante Akim North district of Ghana. These results point towards an occasional involvement of a mobile reservoir in the transmission of M. ulcerans, enabling the spread of bacteria across different regions. Infection with Mycobacterium ulcerans causes the debilitating skin disease Buruli ulcer. Until today, transmission pathways and reservoirs of this emerging pathogen are not well understood. Generally, it is assumed that infection occurs after contact with potential environmental sources of M. ulcerans through puncture wounds or lacerations or via invertebrate vectors, such as aquatic insects contaminated with the bacteria. Comparative genome analyses of M. ulcerans strains isolated from patients living in the same BU endemic areas have revealed a close relationship between the genotype detected and the geographical origin, indicating that the reservoir of the pathogen is relatively fixed in space. In the present study, we report the co-circulation of two distinct M. ulcerans clonal complexes in the same BU endemic area over space and time. Since members of these two clonal complexes were closely related to strains from either the Densu river valley or the Asante Akim North district of Ghana, we conclude that a mobile reservoir of M. ulcerans may be involved in the occasional spread of the bacteria across different regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Araceli Lamelas
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecologia, A.C., Veracruz, México
| | - Kobina Assan Ampah
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana
| | - Samuel Aboagye
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana
| | - Sarah Kerber
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Emelia Danso
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana
| | | | - Prince Asare
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana
| | | | | | - Gerd Pluschke
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Katharina Röltgen
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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16
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Isolation of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria from the Environment of Ghanian Communities Where Buruli Ulcer Is Endemic. Appl Environ Microbiol 2016; 82:4320-4329. [PMID: 27208141 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01002-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED This study aimed to isolate nontuberculous mycobacterial species from environmental samples obtained from some selected communities in Ghana. To optimize decontamination, spiked environmental samples were used to evaluate four decontamination solutions and supplemented media, after which the best decontamination solution and media were used for the actual analysis. The isolates obtained were identified on the basis of specific genetic sequences, including heat shock protein 65, IS2404, IS2606, rpoB, and the ketoreductase gene, as needed. Among the methods evaluated, decontamination with 1 M NaOH followed by 5% oxalic acid gave the highest rate of recovery of mycobacteria (50.0%) and the lowest rate of contamination (15.6%). The cultivation medium that supported the highest rate of recovery of mycobacteria was polymyxin B-amphotericin B-nalidixic acid-trimethoprim-azlocillin-supplemented medium (34.4%), followed by isoniazid-supplemented medium (28.1%). Among the 139 samples cultivated in the main analysis, 58 (41.7%) yielded mycobacterial growth, 70 (50.4%) had no growth, and 11 (7.9%) had all inoculated tubes contaminated. A total of 25 different mycobacterial species were identified. Fifteen species (60%) were slowly growing (e.g., Mycobacterium ulcerans, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium mantenii, and Mycobacterium malmoense), and 10 (40%) were rapidly growing (e.g., Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium fortuitum, and Mycobacterium abscessus). The occurrence of mycobacterial species in the various environmental samples analyzed was as follows: soil, 16 species (43.2%); vegetation, 14 species (38.0%); water, 3 species (8.0%); moss, 2 species (5.4%); snail, 1 species (2.7%); fungi, 1 species (2.7%). This study is the first to report on the isolation of M. ulcerans and other medically relevant nontuberculous mycobacteria from different environmental sources in Ghana. IMPORTANCE Diseases caused by mycobacterial species other than those that cause tuberculosis and leprosy are increasing. Control is difficult because the current understanding of how the organisms are spread and where they live in the environment is limited, although this information is needed to design preventive measures. Growing these organisms from the environment is also difficult, because the culture medium becomes overgrown with other bacteria that also live in the environment, such as in soil and water. We aimed to improve the methods for growing these organisms from environmental sources, such as soil and water samples, for better understanding of important mycobacterial ecology.
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17
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Tobias NJ, Ammisah NA, Ahortor EK, Wallace JR, Ablordey A, Stinear TP. Snapshot fecal survey of domestic animals in rural Ghana for Mycobacterium ulcerans. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2065. [PMID: 27280071 PMCID: PMC4893338 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying the source reservoirs of Mycobacterium ulcerans is key to understanding the mode of transmission of this pathogen and controlling the spread of Buruli ulcer (BU). In Australia, the native possum can harbor M. ulcerans in its gastrointestinal tract and shed high concentrations of the bacteria in its feces. To date, an analogous animal reservoir in Africa has not been identified. Here we tested the hypothesis that common domestic animals in BU endemic villages of Ghana are reservoir species analogous to the Australian possum. Using linear-transects at 10-meter intervals, we performed systematic fecal surveys across four BU endemic villages and one non-endemic village in the Asante Akim North District of Ghana. One hundred and eighty fecal specimens from a single survey event were collected and analyzed by qPCR for the M. ulcerans diagnostic DNA targets IS2404 and KR-B. Positive and negative controls performed as expected but all 180 test samples were negative. This structured snapshot survey suggests that common domestic animals living in and around humans do not shed M. ulcerans in their feces. We conclude that, unlike the Australian native possum, domestic animals in rural Ghana are unlikely to be major reservoirs of M. ulcerans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Tobias
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity , Melbourne , Australia
| | - Nana Ama Ammisah
- Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana , Legon , Ghana
| | - Evans K Ahortor
- Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Science, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - John R Wallace
- Department of Biology, Millersville University of Pennsylvania , Millersville, PA , United States
| | - Anthony Ablordey
- Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana , Legon , Ghana
| | - Timothy P Stinear
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity , Melbourne , Australia
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18
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Sanhueza D, Chevillon C, Colwell R, Babonneau J, Marion E, Marsollier L, Guégan JF. Chitin promotes Mycobacterium ulcerans growth. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 92:fiw067. [PMID: 27020062 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium ulcerans(MU) is the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, an emerging human infectious disease. However, both the ecology and life cycle of MU are poorly understood. The occurrence of MU has been linked to the aquatic environment, notably water bodies affected by human activities. It has been hypothesized that one or a combination of environmental factor(s) connected to human activities could favour growth of MU in aquatic systems. Here, we testedin vitrothe growth effect of two ubiquitous polysaccharides and five chemical components on MU at concentration ranges shown to occur in endemic regions. Real-time PCR showed that chitin increased MU growth significantly providing a nutrient source or environmental support for thebacillus, thereby, providing a focus on the association between MU and aquatic arthropods. Aquatic environments with elevated population of arthropods provide increased chitin availability and, thereby, enhanced multiplication of MU. If calcium very slightly enhanced MU growth, iron, zinc, sulphate and phosphate did not stimulate MU growth, and at the concentration ranges of this study would limit MU population in natural ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Sanhueza
- UMR MIVEGEC IRD-CNRS-Université de Montpellier, Centre IRD de Montpellier, B.P. 64501, 34000 Montpellier, France Equipe Inserm Avenir ATOMycA, CRCNA INSERM U892 and CNRS U6299, Université et CHU d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Christine Chevillon
- UMR MIVEGEC IRD-CNRS-Université de Montpellier, Centre IRD de Montpellier, B.P. 64501, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Rita Colwell
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, Institute for Advanced Computational Systems (UMIACS), College Park, MD 20742, USA and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - Jérémie Babonneau
- Equipe Inserm Avenir ATOMycA, CRCNA INSERM U892 and CNRS U6299, Université et CHU d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Estelle Marion
- Equipe Inserm Avenir ATOMycA, CRCNA INSERM U892 and CNRS U6299, Université et CHU d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Laurent Marsollier
- Equipe Inserm Avenir ATOMycA, CRCNA INSERM U892 and CNRS U6299, Université et CHU d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Jean-François Guégan
- UMR MIVEGEC IRD-CNRS-Université de Montpellier, Centre IRD de Montpellier, B.P. 64501, 34000 Montpellier, France
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19
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Tian RBD, Niamké S, Tissot-Dupont H, Drancourt M. Detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans DNA in the Environment, Ivory Coast. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151567. [PMID: 26982581 PMCID: PMC4794205 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ivory Coast is a West African country with the highest reported cases of Buruli ulcer, a disabling subcutaneous infection due to Mycobacterium ulcerans. However, the prevalence of environmental M. ulcerans is poorly known in this country. Methods We collected 496 environmental specimens consisting of soil (n = 100), stagnant water (n = 200), plants (n = 100) and animal feces (n = 96) in Ivory Coast over five months in the dry and wet seasons in regions which are free of Buruli ulcer (control group A; 250 specimens) and in regions where the Buruli ulcer is endemic (group B; 246 specimens). After appropriate total DNA extraction incorporating an internal control, the M. ulcerans IS2404 and KR-B gene were amplified by real-time PCR in samples. In parallel, a calibration curve was done for M. ulcerans Agy99 IS2404 and KR-B gene. Results Of 460 samples free of PCR inhibition, a positive real-time PCR detection of insertion sequence IS2404 and KR-B gene was observed in 1/230 specimens in control group A versus 9/230 specimens in group B (P = 0.02; Fisher exact test). Positive specimens comprised seven stagnant water specimens, two feces specimens confirmed to be of Thryonomys swinderianus (agouti) origin by real-time PCR of the cytb gene; and one soil specimen. Extrapolation from the calibration curves indicated low inoculums ranging from 1 to 102 mycobacteria/mL. Conclusion This study confirms the presence of M. ulcerans in the watery environment surrounding patients with Buruli ulcer in Ivory Coast. It suggests that the agouti, which is in close contacts with populations, could play a role in the environmental cycle of M. ulcerans, as previously suggested for the closely related possums in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Bi Diangoné Tian
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UMR, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
- Laboratoire de biotechnologies, UFR Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouet Boigny Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Sébastian Niamké
- Laboratoire de biotechnologies, UFR Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouet Boigny Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Hervé Tissot-Dupont
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UMR, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Michel Drancourt
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UMR, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
- * E-mail:
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20
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Barka EA, Vatsa P, Sanchez L, Gaveau-Vaillant N, Jacquard C, Meier-Kolthoff JP, Klenk HP, Clément C, Ouhdouch Y, van Wezel GP. Taxonomy, Physiology, and Natural Products of Actinobacteria. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2016; 80:1-43. [PMID: 26609051 PMCID: PMC4711186 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00019-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 912] [Impact Index Per Article: 114.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Actinobacteria are Gram-positive bacteria with high G+C DNA content that constitute one of the largest bacterial phyla, and they are ubiquitously distributed in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Many Actinobacteria have a mycelial lifestyle and undergo complex morphological differentiation. They also have an extensive secondary metabolism and produce about two-thirds of all naturally derived antibiotics in current clinical use, as well as many anticancer, anthelmintic, and antifungal compounds. Consequently, these bacteria are of major importance for biotechnology, medicine, and agriculture. Actinobacteria play diverse roles in their associations with various higher organisms, since their members have adopted different lifestyles, and the phylum includes pathogens (notably, species of Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Propionibacterium, and Tropheryma), soil inhabitants (e.g., Micromonospora and Streptomyces species), plant commensals (e.g., Frankia spp.), and gastrointestinal commensals (Bifidobacterium spp.). Actinobacteria also play an important role as symbionts and as pathogens in plant-associated microbial communities. This review presents an update on the biology of this important bacterial phylum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Essaid Ait Barka
- Laboratoire de Stress, Défenses et Reproduction des Plantes, Unité de Recherche Vignes et Vins de Champagne, UFR Sciences, UPRES EA 4707, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Parul Vatsa
- Laboratoire de Stress, Défenses et Reproduction des Plantes, Unité de Recherche Vignes et Vins de Champagne, UFR Sciences, UPRES EA 4707, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Lisa Sanchez
- Laboratoire de Stress, Défenses et Reproduction des Plantes, Unité de Recherche Vignes et Vins de Champagne, UFR Sciences, UPRES EA 4707, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Nathalie Gaveau-Vaillant
- Laboratoire de Stress, Défenses et Reproduction des Plantes, Unité de Recherche Vignes et Vins de Champagne, UFR Sciences, UPRES EA 4707, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Cedric Jacquard
- Laboratoire de Stress, Défenses et Reproduction des Plantes, Unité de Recherche Vignes et Vins de Champagne, UFR Sciences, UPRES EA 4707, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | | | - Hans-Peter Klenk
- School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Christophe Clément
- Laboratoire de Stress, Défenses et Reproduction des Plantes, Unité de Recherche Vignes et Vins de Champagne, UFR Sciences, UPRES EA 4707, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Yder Ouhdouch
- Faculté de Sciences Semlalia, Université Cadi Ayyad, Laboratoire de Biologie et de Biotechnologie des Microorganismes, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Gilles P van Wezel
- Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Sylvius Laboratories, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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21
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Velayati AA, Farnia P, Mozafari M, Malekshahian D, Farahbod AM, Seif S, Rahideh S, Mirsaeidi M. Identification and genotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from water and soil samples of a metropolitan city. Chest 2015; 147:1094-1102. [PMID: 25340935 DOI: 10.1378/chest.14-0960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The potential role of environmental Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the epidemiology of TB remains unknown. We investigated the transmission of M tuberculosis from humans to the environment and the possible transmission of M tuberculosis from the environment to humans. METHODS A total of 1,500 samples were collected from three counties of the Tehran, Iran metropolitan area from February 2012 to January 2014. A total of 700 water samples (47%) and 800 soil samples (53%) were collected. Spoligotyping and the mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number of tandem repeats typing method were performed on DNA extracted from single colonies. Genotypes of M tuberculosis strains isolated from the environment were compared with the genotypes obtained from 55 patients with confirmed pulmonary TB diagnosed during the study period in the same three counties. RESULTS M tuberculosis was isolated from 11 of 800 soil samples (1%) and 71 of 700 water samples (10%). T family (56 of 82, 68%) followed by Delhi/CAS (11 of 82, 13.4%) were the most frequent M tuberculosis superfamilies in both water and soil samples. Overall, 27.7% of isolates in clusters were related. No related typing patterns were detected between soil, water, and clinical isolates. The most frequent superfamily of M tuberculosis in clinical isolates was Delhi/CAS (142, 30.3%) followed by NEW-1 (127, 27%). The bacilli in contaminated soil (36%) and damp water (8.4%) remained reculturable in some samples up to 9 months. CONCLUSIONS Although the dominant M tuberculosis superfamilies in soil and water did not correspond to the dominant M tuberculosis family in patients, the presence of circulating genotypes of M tuberculosis in soil and water highlight the risk of transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Akbar Velayati
- From the Mycobacteriology Research Centre, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parissa Farnia
- From the Mycobacteriology Research Centre, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohadese Mozafari
- From the Mycobacteriology Research Centre, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Donya Malekshahian
- From the Mycobacteriology Research Centre, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Masoud Farahbod
- From the Mycobacteriology Research Centre, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shima Seif
- From the Mycobacteriology Research Centre, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Snaz Rahideh
- From the Mycobacteriology Research Centre, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Mirsaeidi
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
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22
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Current and past strategies for bacterial culture in clinical microbiology. Clin Microbiol Rev 2015; 28:208-36. [PMID: 25567228 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00110-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 281] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A pure bacterial culture remains essential for the study of its virulence, its antibiotic susceptibility, and its genome sequence in order to facilitate the understanding and treatment of caused diseases. The first culture conditions empirically varied incubation time, nutrients, atmosphere, and temperature; culture was then gradually abandoned in favor of molecular methods. The rebirth of culture in clinical microbiology was prompted by microbiologists specializing in intracellular bacteria. The shell vial procedure allowed the culture of new species of Rickettsia. The design of axenic media for growing fastidious bacteria such as Tropheryma whipplei and Coxiella burnetii and the ability of amoebal coculture to discover new bacteria constituted major advances. Strong efforts associating optimized culture media, detection methods, and a microaerophilic atmosphere allowed a dramatic decrease of the time of Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture. The use of a new versatile medium allowed an extension of the repertoire of archaea. Finally, to optimize the culture of anaerobes in routine bacteriology laboratories, the addition of antioxidants in culture media under an aerobic atmosphere allowed the growth of strictly anaerobic species. Nevertheless, among usual bacterial pathogens, the development of axenic media for the culture of Treponema pallidum or Mycobacterium leprae remains an important challenge that the patience and innovations of cultivators will enable them to overcome.
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23
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Mycobacterium ulcerans Disease (Buruli Ulcer): Potential Reservoirs and Vectors. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s40588-015-0013-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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24
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Amissah NA, Gryseels S, Tobias NJ, Ravadgar B, Suzuki M, Vandelannoote K, Durnez L, Leirs H, Stinear TP, Portaels F, Ablordey A, Eddyani M. Investigating the role of free-living amoebae as a reservoir for Mycobacterium ulcerans. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3148. [PMID: 25188535 PMCID: PMC4154674 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The reservoir and mode of transmission of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, still remain a mystery. It has been suggested that M. ulcerans persists with difficulty as a free-living organism due to its natural fragility and inability to withstand exposure to direct sunlight, and thus probably persists within a protective host environment. Methodology/Principal Findings We investigated the role of free-living amoebae as a reservoir of M. ulcerans by screening the bacterium in free-living amoebae (FLA) cultures isolated from environmental specimens using real-time PCR. We also followed the survival of M. ulcerans expressing green fluorescence protein (GFP) in Acanthameoba castellanii by flow cytometry and observed the infected cells using confocal and transmission electron microscopy for four weeks in vitro. IS2404 was detected by quantitative PCR in 4.64% of FLA cultures isolated from water, biofilms, detritus and aerosols. While we could not isolate M. ulcerans, 23 other species of mycobacteria were cultivated from inside FLA and/or other phagocytic microorganisms. Laboratory experiments with GFP-expressing M. ulcerans in A. castellani trophozoites for 28 days indicated the bacteria did not replicate inside amoebae, but they could remain viable at low levels in cysts. Transmission electron microscopy of infected A. castellani confirmed the presence of bacteria within both trophozoite vacuoles and cysts. There was no correlation of BU notification rate with detection of the IS2404 in FLA (r = 0.07, n = 539, p = 0.127). Conclusion/Significance This study shows that FLA in the environment are positive for the M. ulcerans insertion sequence IS2404. However, the detection frequency and signal strength of IS2404 positive amoabae was low and no link with the occurrence of BU was observed. We conclude that FLA may host M. ulcerans at low levels in the environment without being directly involved in the transmission to humans. Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of Buruli ulcer (BU) is an environmental pathogen known to reside in aquatic habitat. However, the reservoir and modes of transmission to humans still remain unknown. M. ulcerans can probably not live freely due to its natural fragility and inability to withstand exposure to direct sunlight. This study investigated the hypothesis that free-living amoebae (FLA) can serve as a reservoir of M. ulcerans by testing for its presence in amoebae isolated from water bodies in BU endemic and non-endemic communities and whether the pathogen can remain viable when experimentally infected in amoebae in the laboratory. We detected only one (IS2404) of the three (IS2606 and KRB) targets for the presence of M. ulcerans in amoebae cultures and found no correlation between its presence in the environment and BU notification rate. M. ulcerans remained viable at low levels in amoebae for 28 days in vitro. We therefore conclude that FLA may host M. ulcerans at low levels in the environment without being directly involved in the transmission to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Ama Amissah
- Bacteriology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
- * E-mail:
| | - Sophie Gryseels
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nicholas J. Tobias
- Department of Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bahram Ravadgar
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mitsuko Suzuki
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - Koen Vandelannoote
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Lies Durnez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Herwig Leirs
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Timothy P. Stinear
- Department of Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Françoise Portaels
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Anthony Ablordey
- Bacteriology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - Miriam Eddyani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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25
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Cateau E, Delafont V, Hechard Y, Rodier M. Free-living amoebae: what part do they play in healthcare-associated infections? J Hosp Infect 2014; 87:131-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2014.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Accepted: 05/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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26
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McIntosh M, Williamson H, Benbow ME, Kimbirauskas R, Quaye C, Boakye D, Small P, Merritt R. Associations between Mycobacterium ulcerans and aquatic plant communities of West Africa: implications for Buruli ulcer disease. ECOHEALTH 2014; 11:184-196. [PMID: 24442959 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-013-0898-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2013] [Revised: 12/03/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies have associated Buruli ulcer (BU) disease with disturbed aquatic habitats; however, the natural reservoir, distribution, and transmission of the pathogen, Mycobacterium ulcerans, remain unknown. To better understand the role of aquatic plants in the ecology of this disease, a large-scale survey was conducted in waterbodies of variable flow throughout three regions of Ghana, Africa. Our objectives were to characterize plant communities and identify potential relationships with M. ulcerans and other mycolactone-producing mycobacteria (MPM). Waterbodies with M. ulcerans had significantly different aquatic plant communities, with submerged terrestrial plants identified as indicators of M. ulcerans presence. Mycobacterium ulcerans and MPM were detected on 14 plant taxa in emergent zones from both lotic and lentic waterbodies in endemic regions; however, M. ulcerans was not detected in the non-endemic Volta region. These findings support the hypothesis that plants provide substrate for M. ulcerans colonization and could act as potential indicators for disease risk. These findings also suggest that M. ulcerans is a widespread environmental bacteria species, but that it is absent or reduced in regions of low disease incidence. A better understanding is needed regarding the mechanistic associations among aquatic plants and M. ulcerans for identifying the mode of transmission of BU disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mollie McIntosh
- Department of Biology, Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH, 45207-4331, USA,
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27
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Cabello-Vílchez AM, Mena R, Zuñiga J, Cermeño P, Martín-Navarro CM, González AC, López-Arencibia A, Reyes-Batlle M, Piñero JE, Valladares B, Lorenzo-Morales J. Endosymbiotic Mycobacterium chelonae in a Vermamoeba vermiformis strain isolated from the nasal mucosa of an HIV patient in Lima, Peru. Exp Parasitol 2014; 145 Suppl:S127-30. [PMID: 24594260 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2014.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Revised: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
In March 2010, a 35 year-old HIV/AIDS female patient was admitted to hospital to start treatment with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) since during a routine control a dramatic decrease in the CD4(+) levels was detected. At this stage, a nasal swab from each nostril was collected from the patient to include it in the samples for the case study mentioned above. Moreover, it is important to mention that the patient was diagnosed in 2009 with invasive pneumococcal disease, acute cholecystitis, pancreatitis and pulmonary tuberculosis. The collected nasal swabs from both nostrils were positive for Vermamoeba vermiformis species which was identified using morphological and PCR/DNA sequencing approaches. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) homology and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the amoebic strain to belong to V.vermiformis species. Molecular identification of the Mycobacterium strain was carried out using a bacterial universal primer pair for the 16S rDNA gene at the genus level and the rpoB gene was amplified and sequenced as previously described to identify the Mycobacterium species (Shin et al., 2008; Sheen et al., 2013). Homology and phylogenetic analyses of the rpoB gene confirmed the species as Mycobacterium chelonae. In parallel, collected swabs were tested by PCR and were positive for the presence of V.vermiformis and M.chelonae. This work describes the identification of an emerging bacterial pathogen,M.chelonae from a Free-Living Amoebae (FLA) strain belonging to the species V.vermiformis that colonized the nasal cavities of an HIV/AIDS patient, previously diagnosed with TB. Awareness within clinicians and public health professionals should be raised, as pathogenic agents such as M.chelonae may be using FLA to propagate and survive in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Martín Cabello-Vílchez
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Medical Technology School, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Rosmery Mena
- Immunohistochemistry Laboratory, National Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Johanna Zuñiga
- Medical Technology School, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Pablo Cermeño
- School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Carmen Ma Martín-Navarro
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Centre for Integrative Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Ana C González
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Atteneri López-Arencibia
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - María Reyes-Batlle
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - José E Piñero
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Basilio Valladares
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
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28
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Wannasan A, Uparanukraw P, Songsangchun A, Morakote N. Potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae in some flood-affected areas during 2011 Chiang Mai flood. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2014; 55:411-6. [PMID: 24213194 PMCID: PMC4105089 DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652013000600007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2012] [Accepted: 03/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
SUMMARY The survey was carried out to investigate the presence of potentially
pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA) during flood in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2011.
From different crisis flood areas, seven water samples were collected and tested
for the presence of amoebae using culture and molecular methods. By monoxenic
culture, FLA were detected from all samples at 37 °C incubation. The FLA growing
at 37 °C were morphologically identified as Acanthamoeba spp.,
Naegleria spp. and some unidentified amoebae. Only three
samples (42.8%), defined as thermotolerant FLA, continued to grow at 42 °C. By
molecular methods, two non-thermotolerant FlA were shown to have 99% identity to
Acanthamoeba sp. and 98% identity to Hartmannella
vermiformis while the two thermotolerant FLA were identified as
Echinamoeba exundans (100% identity) and
Hartmannella sp. (99% identity). This first report of the
occurrence of FLA in water during the flood disaster will provide information to
the public to be aware of potentially pathogenic FLA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anchalee Wannasan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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Insertion sequence element single nucleotide polymorphism typing provides insights into the population structure and evolution of Mycobacterium ulcerans across Africa. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 80:1197-209. [PMID: 24296504 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02774-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Buruli ulcer is an indolent, slowly progressing necrotizing disease of the skin caused by infection with Mycobacterium ulcerans. In the present study, we applied a redesigned technique to a vast panel of M. ulcerans disease isolates and clinical samples originating from multiple African disease foci in order to (i) gain fundamental insights into the population structure and evolutionary history of the pathogen and (ii) disentangle the phylogeographic relationships within the genetically conserved cluster of African M. ulcerans. Our analyses identified 23 different African insertion sequence element single nucleotide polymorphism (ISE-SNP) types that dominate in different areas where Buruli ulcer is endemic. These ISE-SNP types appear to be the initial stages of clonal diversification from a common, possibly ancestral ISE-SNP type. ISE-SNP types were found unevenly distributed over the greater West African hydrological drainage basins. Our findings suggest that geographical barriers bordering the basins to some extent prevented bacterial gene flow between basins and that this resulted in independent focal transmission clusters associated with the hydrological drainage areas. Different phylogenetic methods yielded two well-supported sister clades within the African ISE-SNP types. The ISE-SNP types from the "pan-African clade" were found to be widespread throughout Africa, while the ISE-SNP types of the "Gabonese/Cameroonian clade" were much rarer and found in a more restricted area, which suggested that the latter clade evolved more recently. Additionally, the Gabonese/Cameroonian clade was found to form a strongly supported monophyletic group with Papua New Guinean ISE-SNP type 8, which is unrelated to other Southeast Asian ISE-SNP types.
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