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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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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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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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Tian RDB, Lepidi H, Nappez C, Drancourt M. Experimental Survival of Mycobacterium ulcerans in Watery Soil, a Potential Source of Buruli Ulcer. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015; 94:89-92. [PMID: 26526927 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The reservoir of Mycobacterium ulcerans causing Buruli ulcer (BU) remains unknown. Here, sterilized watery soil was mixed with 2 × 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU)/g of M. ulcerans Agy99 or M. ulcerans ATCC 33728 and incubated in a microaerophilic atmosphere in the presence of negative controls. Both M. ulcerans strains survived in soil for 4 months with a final inoculum of 300-440 CFU/g. Further, three groups of five mice with and without footpad scarification were exposed to control soil or M. ulcerans-inoculated soil. Although no specific clinical and histopathological lesions were observed in control animals, red spots observed on 8/20 scarified feet in 8/10 challenged mice yielded inflammatory infiltrates and positive real-time polymerase chain reaction detection of M. ulcerans DNA in five mice. BU can be acquired as an inoculation infection with watery soil as a transient source of infection. These experimental observations warrant additional field observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger D B Tian
- Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (UMR/CNRS 7278/IRD 198/INSERM 1095), Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Hubert Lepidi
- Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (UMR/CNRS 7278/IRD 198/INSERM 1095), Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Claude Nappez
- Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (UMR/CNRS 7278/IRD 198/INSERM 1095), Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Michel Drancourt
- Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (UMR/CNRS 7278/IRD 198/INSERM 1095), Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
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