Whole Genome Comparisons Suggest Random Distribution of Mycobacterium ulcerans Genotypes in a Buruli Ulcer Endemic Region of Ghana

Ablordey, Anthony; Vandelannoote, Koen; Frimpong, Isaac A.; Ahortor, Evans K.; Amissah, Nana Ama; Eddyani, Miriam; Durnez, Lies; Portaels, Françoise; Jong, Bouke C. de; Leirs, Herwig; Porter, Jessica L.; Mangas, Kirstie M.; Buultjens, Andrew H.; Seemann, Torsten; Tobias, Nicholas J.; Stinear, Timothy P.

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003681

Cited by 25 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…The relationship between population structure and geography was less clear-cut than that observed at the broader continental scale, with several phylogeographic incongruences observed. This breakdown of geographic structure at more local scales has been reported in studies employing whole-genome sequencing to assess M. ulcerans population structure in regions of Africa (51). Nonetheless, the geographical structure in the Victorian population was quantitatively assessed and found to be significantly different from what is expected by random chance alone.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…Introductions of a second genotype into environments already colonized with M. ulcerans have been reported in two previous studies in Africa (51,54). In one study, the estimate of the temporal emergence of the second introduction is thought to have coincided with a major human activity: the start of colonial rule in Africa (54).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…The potential of microbial genomics to study M. ulcerans populations was first examined using a relatively small collection of Ghanaian disease isolates (3). Several studies have since made use of genomics to conduct high-resolution molecular epidemiological investigations (51,52), discerning between relapse and reinfections (53) and revealing deep insights into reconstructed historical evolutionary trajectories (54). In this study, we have sequenced and compared the genomes of 178 M. ulcerans isolates to reveal more detail about the evolutionary history and consequent population structure of M. ulcerans in Australia.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Comparative Genomics Shows That Mycobacterium ulcerans Migration and Expansion Preceded the Rise of Buruli Ulcer in Southeastern Australia

Buultjens

Vandelannoote

Meehan

et al. 2018

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Since 2000, cases of the neglected tropical disease Buruli ulcer, caused by infection with , have increased 100-fold around Melbourne (population 4.4 million), the capital of Victoria, in temperate southeastern Australia. The reasons for this increase are unclear. Here, we used whole-genome sequence comparisons of 178 isolates obtained primarily from human clinical specimens, spanning 70 years, to model the population dynamics of this pathogen from this region. Using phylogeographic and advanced Bayesian phylogenetic approaches, we found that there has been a migration of the pathogen from the east end of the state, beginning in the 1980s, 300 km west to the major human population center around Melbourne. This move was then followed by a significant increase in population size. These analyses inform our thinking around Buruli ulcer transmission and control, indicating that is introduced to a new environment and then expands, rather than it being from the awakening of a quiescent pathogen reservoir. Buruli ulcer is a destructive skin and soft tissue infection caused by and is characterized by progressive skin ulceration, which can lead to permanent disfigurement and long-term disability. Despite the majority of disease burden occurring in regions of West and central Africa, Buruli ulcer is also becoming increasingly common in southeastern Australia. Major impediments to controlling disease spread are incomplete understandings of the environmental reservoirs and modes of transmission of The significance of our research is that we used genomics to assess the population structure of this pathogen at the Australian continental scale. We have then reconstructed a historical bacterial spread and modeled demographic dynamics to reveal bacterial population expansion across southeastern Australia. These findings provide explanations for the observed epidemiological trends with Buruli ulcer and suggest possible management to control disease spread.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative Genomics Shows That Mycobacterium ulcerans Migration and Expansion Preceded the Rise of Buruli Ulcer in Southeastern Australia

Buultjens

Vandelannoote

Meehan

et al. 2018

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is currently replacing conventional genotyping methods for M. ulcerans (Doig et al. 2012; Ablordey et al. 2015; Bolz et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple introductions and recent spread of the emerging human pathogen Mycobacterium ulcerans across Africa

et al. 2017

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Buruli ulcer (BU) is an insidious neglected tropical disease. Cases are reported around the world but the rural regions of West and Central Africa are most affected. How BU is transmitted and spreads has remained a mystery, even though the causative agent, Mycobacterium ulcerans, has been known for more than 70 years. Here, using the tools of population genomics, we reconstruct the evolutionary history of M. ulcerans by comparing 165 isolates spanning 48 years and representing 11 endemic countries across Africa. The genetic diversity of African M. ulcerans was found to be restricted due to the bacterium’s slow substitution rate coupled with its relatively recent origin. We identified two specific M. ulcerans lineages within the African continent, and inferred that M. ulcerans lineage Mu_A1 existed in Africa for several hundreds of years, unlike lineage Mu_A2, which was introduced much more recently, approximately during the 19th century. Additionally, we observed that specific M. ulcerans epidemic Mu_A1 clones were introduced during the same time period in the three hydrological basins that were well covered in our panel. The estimated time span of the introduction events coincides with the Neo-imperialism period, during which time the European colonial powers divided the African continent among themselves. Using this temporal association, and in the absence of a known BU reservoir or—vector on the continent, we postulate that the so-called "Scramble for Africa" played a significant role in the spread of the disease across the continent.

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“…Ablordey et al studied BU cases from Ashanti region of Ghana [14]. The study used questionnaire administration and GIS techniques.…”

Section: Literature Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

Geospatial Analysis of Buruli Ulcer Prevalence in Anambra North, Anambra State, Nigeria

Ike¹,

Usman²,

Yelwa³

2017

J Prev Inf Cntrl

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Although the true burden and the factors responsible for Buruli ulcer (BU) occurrence in Nigeria is not yet known, the disease has become an issue of great concern in some parts of the country, especially in Anambra State. It is against this background that this study analyzed the prevalence of BU in Anambra North with the objectives of determining the hotspots, trends and factors influencing the occurrence of the disease in the study area. Three LGAs and fifteen communities were selected based on purposive sampling in which 400 copies of questionnaire were randomly distributed. Field survey, topographic map of the study area, administrative map of the study area, Global Position System (GPS) and Google earth satellite images were the materials and methods used for the study. The analysis was done using ArcGIS 10.1 and Excel software packages. The results show a variation in the temporal distribution of the disease. The trend analysis revealed that the months of February and May recorded the highest number of cases of BU (17.2%) and (15.6%), respectively while the months of September and October recorded no case of the disease. The study also discovered five significant hotspots of BU at 95% confidence level using the Getis-Ord G * tool. The hotspots of BU in the study area include Omor (p-value: 0.0119), Umumbo (0.0119), Igbakwu (p-value: 0.0119), Anaku (p-value: 0.0197) and Umuerum (p-value: 0.0197). On the factors influencing BU occurrence in the study area, cultural practices, farming/fishing on swampy lands, swimming in rivers and living close to stagnant bodies of water were identified as risk factors of BU occurrence in the study area. The bivariate analysis of BU factors revealed that cultural practices pose the highest risk of BU occurrence with a percentage increase in risk of 846% while wearing of protective gadgets reduces the risk of the disease with a percentage decrease in risk of 20%. More so, the study showed that the disease has negative effects on the feeding habit and employment of majority (76.6%) and (78.1%) respectively of the affected persons. The study therefore concludes by recommending that people should be discouraged from activities around the ox-bow lakes such as swimming and dipping legs in pond waters.

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Whole Genome Comparisons Suggest Random Distribution of Mycobacterium ulcerans Genotypes in a Buruli Ulcer Endemic Region of Ghana

Cited by 25 publications

References 52 publications

Comparative Genomics Shows That Mycobacterium ulcerans Migration and Expansion Preceded the Rise of Buruli Ulcer in Southeastern Australia

Comparative Genomics Shows That Mycobacterium ulcerans Migration and Expansion Preceded the Rise of Buruli Ulcer in Southeastern Australia

Multiple introductions and recent spread of the emerging human pathogen Mycobacterium ulcerans across Africa

Geospatial Analysis of Buruli Ulcer Prevalence in Anambra North, Anambra State, Nigeria

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