Background: Mycobacterium ulcerans is know to cause the Buruli ulcer. The association between the ulcer and environmental exposure has been documented. However, the epidemiology of the ulcer is not well understood. A hypothesised transmission involves humans being bitten by the water bugs that prey on mollusks, snails and young fishes.
Methods: In this paper, a model for the transmission of Mycobacterium ulcerans to humans in the presence of a preventive strategy is proposed and analysed. The model equilibria are determined and conditions for the existence of the equilibria established. The model analysis is carried out in terms of the reproduction number [Formula: see text]. The disease free equilibrium is found to be locally asymptotically stable for [Formula: see text] The model is fitted to data from Ghana.
Results: The model is found to exhibit a backward bifurcation and the endemic equilibrium point is globally stable when [Formula: see text] Sensitivity analysis showed that the Buruli ulcer epidemic is highly influenced by the shedding and clearance rates of Mycobacterium ulcerans in the environment. The model is found to fit reasonably well to data from Ghana and projections on the future of the Buruli ulcer epidemic are also made.
Conclusions: The model reasonably fitted data from Ghana. The fitting process showed data that appeared to have reached a steady state and projections showed that the epidemic levels will remain the same for the projected time. The implications of the results to policy and future management of the disease are discussed.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4636839 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13104-015-1619-5 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Background: In Nigeria, men constitute over half of the people notified with tuberculosis (TB), experience longer delays before reaching care, and are estimated to account for two thirds of people who miss out on care. The higher TB risk and burden in men has implications for the whole population and reaching them earlier with TB services will reduce onward transmission in households, communities, and workplaces. The absence of a comprehensive guidance and the lack of substantial empirical evidence on TB care approaches that are responsive to the needs of men in Nigeria exacerbates this problem.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComputational and GC-MS screening of bioactive compounds from Thymus Vulgaris targeting mycolactone protein associated with Buruli ulcer.
Sci Rep
January 2025
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Buruli ulcer (BU) a neglected disease induced by the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans, predominantly impacts tropical and subtropical areas with its pathophysiology ascribed to the Mycolactone protein. Current antibiotics frequently prove insufficient to manage advanced or chronic ulcers and the rise of drug resistance presents a considerable challenge. This work aims to address these challenges by employing computational methods to identify therapeutic candidates from organic compounds, which may be developed into more effective therapies for Buruli ulcer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExploring Mycolactone-The Unique Causative Toxin of Buruli Ulcer: Biosynthetic, Synthetic Pathways, Biomarker for Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Potential.
Toxins (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra P.O. Box LG56, Ghana.
Mycolactone is a complex macrolide toxin produced by , the causative agent of Buruli ulcer. The aim of this paper is to review the chemistry, biosynthetic, and synthetic pathways of mycolactone A/B to help develop an understanding of the mode of action of these polyketides as well as their therapeutic potential. The synthetic work has largely been driven by the desire to afford researchers enough (≥100 mg) of the pure toxins for systematic biological studies toward understanding their very high biological activities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReassessing the Significance of Mycobacterium in Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Study Protocol in Nigeria.
Int J Mycobacteriol
October 2024
Programme Department, RedAid, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) significantly impact the physical and mental well-being of affected individuals, particularly in Nigeria. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating mental health services with self-care practices for individuals suffering from leprosy, Buruli ulcer (BU), and lymphatic filariasis (LF). The role of trained Healthcare Workers (HCWs) and NTD champions (NTD-Cs) will be explored to enhance health outcomes in this population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBuruli ulcer in Australia: Evidence for a new endemic focus at Batemans Bay, New South Wales.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis
December 2024
Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Canberra Hospital, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
We describe two locally acquired cases of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection (Buruli ulcer) in the town of Batemans Bay on the east coast of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, 150 km north of Eden, the only other place in NSW where Buruli ulcer has likely been locally acquired. Genomic analysis showed that the bacterial isolates from the cases were identical but belonged to a phylogenetically distinct M. ulcerans clade that was most closely related to the isolate from the earlier case in Eden to the south.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!