| Title: |
Spatiotemporal distribution of Mycobacterium ulcerans and other mycolactone producing mycobacteria in southeastern United States |
| Authors: |
Magdalene Dogbe; Cody Roberts; Kayla M. Fast; Alex W. Rakestraw; Joseph P. Receveur; Katherine Yoskowitz; Jennifer L. Pechal; Michael W. Sandel; Christine Chevillon; Jean-François Guégan; Mark E. Benbow; Heather R. Jordan |
| Source: |
Emerging Microbes and Infections, Vol 14, Iss 1 (2025) |
| Publisher Information: |
Taylor & Francis Group, 2025. |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Collection: |
LCC:Infectious and parasitic diseases; LCC:Microbiology |
| Subject Terms: |
Mycobacterium ulcerans; Mycobacterium liflandii; mycolactone-producing mycobacteria; Buruli Ulcer; Louisiana; Alabama; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Microbiology; QR1-502 |
| Description: |
Buruli ulcer (BU) is a chronic and debilitating skin disease caused by the environmental pathogen, Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU). The primary virulence determinant is mycolactone, a cytotoxic lipid compound unique to MU and its other mycolactone producing mycobacteria (MPM) ecological variants. Although BU prevalence is highest in West Africa and Australia, little is known about MU and other MPM distribution in non-endemic regions such as the Southeastern United States (US). In this study, environmental samples (water filtrand, plant biofilm, soil, aquatic invertebrates) were collected from nine freshwater sites across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama over three sampling periods (August 2020, November 2020, March 2021). Samples were screened for MU and MPM presence and abundance by PCR and genotyped using variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) profiling. All nine sites were positive for MU or other MPM DNA in at least one substrate, except invertebrates. Overall, mean concentrations were 4.3 × 104 genome units (GU)/sample in August 2020, 1.26 GU/sample in November 2020, and 55.5 GU/sample in March 2021. Profiling by VNTR identified four MU (designated A-D) and one M. liflandii genotype(s), among environmental samples, with genotype frequencies varying by site and sampling time. Detection of MU and M. liflandii genotypes in Southeastern US aquatic environments, matching those from BU endemic regions, provides rationale for ongoing surveillance. Our findings broaden the known geographic range of MU and MPMs and offer baseline data to help predict and prevent and predict the possibility of zoonotic transmission in Southeastern US. |
| Document Type: |
article |
| File Description: |
electronic resource |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
2222-1751 |
| Relation: |
https://doaj.org/toc/2222-1751 |
| DOI: |
10.1080/22221751.2025.2521853 |
| Access URL: |
https://doaj.org/article/21354d989bcc475bb362fa3d691663d3 |
| Accession Number: |
edsdoj.21354d989bcc475bb362fa3d691663d3 |
| Database: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |