Journal article
A major role for mammals in the ecology of Mycobacterium ulcerans
JAM Fyfe, CJ Lavender, KA Handasyde, AR Legione, CR O'Brien, TP Stinear, SJ Pidot, T Seemann, ME Benbow, JR Wallace, C McCowan, PDR Johnson
Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases | Published : 2010
Abstract
Background: Mycobacterium ulcerans is the causative agent of Buruli ulcer (BU), a destructive skin disease found predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa and south-eastern Australia. The precise mode(s) of transmission and environmental reservoir(s) remain unknown, but several studies have explored the role of aquatic invertebrate species. The purpose of this study was to investigate the environmental distribution of M. ulcerans in south-eastern Australia. Methodology/Principal Findings:A range of environmental samples was collected from Point Lonsdale (a small coastal town southwest of Melbourne, Australia, endemic for BU) and from areas with fewer or no reported incident cases of BU. Mycobacter..
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Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Funding Acknowledgements
This research was predominantly funded by the State of Victoria through its Department of Health (Public Health Research Grants 2004-10). The views and conclusions are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Health. The research was also supported in part by the Stop Buruli initiative funded by the UBS Optimus Foundation (http://www.ubs.com/1/e/wealthmanagement/optimusfoundation/commitment/global_research/buruli.html) and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. M. E. Benbow and J. R. Wallace were supported in part by grant number R01TW007550 from the Fogarty International Center through the National Institutes of Health/National Science Foundation (NIH/NSF) Ecology of Infectious Diseases Program, and grant number R03AI062719. Carolyn O'Brien is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.