Aquatic Insects as a Vector for Mycobacterium ulcerans
Top Cited Papers
- 1 September 2002
- journal article
- Published by American Society for Microbiology in Applied and Environmental Microbiology
- Vol. 68 (9) , 4623-4628
- https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.68.9.4623-4628.2002
Abstract
Mycobacterium ulcerans is an emerging environmental pathogen which causes chronic skin ulcers (i.e., Buruli ulcer) in otherwise healthy humans living in tropical countries, particularly those in Africa. In spite of epidemiological and PCR data linking M. ulcerans to water, the mode of transmission of this organism remains elusive. To determine the role of aquatic insects in the transmission of M. ulcerans , we have set up an experimental model with aquariums that mimic aquatic microenvironments. We report that M. ulcerans may be transmitted to laboratory mice by the bite of aquatic bugs (Naucoridae) that are infected with this organism. In addition, M. ulcerans appears to be localized exclusively within salivary glands of these insects, where it can both survive and multiply without causing any observable damage in the insect tissues. Subsequently, we isolated M. ulcerans from wild aquatic insects collected from a zone in the Daloa region of Ivory Coast where Buruli ulcer is endemic. Taken together, these results point to aquatic insects as a possible vector of M. ulcerans .Keywords
This publication has 32 references indexed in Scilit:
- Mycobacterium ulceransCytotoxicity in an Adipose Cell ModelInfection and Immunity, 2001
- Mycobacterium ulcerans in wild animalsRevue Scientifique et Technique de l'OIE, 2001
- Identification of Mycobacterium ulcerans in the Environment from Regions in Southeast Australia in Which It Is Endemic with Sequence Capture-PCRApplied and Environmental Microbiology, 2000
- AMycobacterium ulceransToxin, Mycolactone, Causes Apoptosis in Guinea Pig Ulcers and Tissue Culture CellsInfection and Immunity, 2000
- Insects in the transmission of Mycobacterium ulcerans infectionThe Lancet, 1999
- Emergence of Buruli Ulcer Disease in the Daloa Region of Cote D'IvoireThe American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1995
- Modification of the skin feeding site by tick saliva mediates virus transmissionCellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 1992
- [Cutaneous ulcer from Mycobacterium ulcerans. Apropos of 1 case in French Guiana].1992
- Salivary Gland Lysates from the Sand Fly Lutzomyia longipalpis Enhance Leishmania InfectivityScience, 1988
- Epidemiology of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection (buruli ulcer) at Kinyara, UgandaTransactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1971