Mosquitoes provide a transmission route between possums and humans for Buruli ulcer in southeastern Australia
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Published:2024-01-23
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ISSN:2058-5276
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Container-title:Nature Microbiology
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Nat Microbiol
Author:
Mee Peter T.ORCID, Buultjens Andrew H.ORCID, Oliver Jane, Brown Karen, Crowder Jodie C., Porter Jessica L., Hobbs Emma C., Judd Louise M., Taiaroa George, Puttharak Natsuda, Williamson Deborah A.ORCID, Blasdell Kim R.ORCID, Tay Ee Laine, Feldman Rebecca, Muzari Mutizwa Odwell, Sanders ChrisORCID, Larsen StuartORCID, Crouch Simon R., Johnson Paul D. R.ORCID, Wallace John R.ORCID, Price David J.ORCID, Hoffmann Ary A.ORCID, Gibney Katherine B.ORCID, Stinear Timothy P.ORCID, Lynch Stacey E.
Abstract
AbstractBuruli ulcer, a chronic subcutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is increasing in prevalence in southeastern Australia. Possums are a local wildlife reservoir for M. ulcerans and, although mosquitoes have been implicated in transmission, it remains unclear how humans acquire infection. We conducted extensive field survey analyses of M. ulcerans prevalence among mosquitoes in the Mornington Peninsula region of southeastern Australia. PCR screening of trapped mosquitoes revealed a significant association between M. ulcerans and Aedes notoscriptus. Spatial scanning statistics revealed overlap between clusters of M. ulcerans-positive Ae. notoscriptus, M. ulcerans-positive possum excreta and Buruli ulcer cases, and metabarcoding analyses showed individual mosquitoes had fed on humans and possums. Bacterial genomic analysis confirmed shared single-nucleotide-polymorphism profiles for M. ulcerans detected in mosquitoes, possum excreta and humans. These findings indicate Ae. notoscriptus probably transmit M. ulcerans in southeastern Australia and highlight mosquito control as a Buruli ulcer prevention measure.
Funder
Department of Health | National Health and Medical Research Council Millersville University Faculty Grants and Sabbatical Leave Program
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Cell Biology,Microbiology (medical),Genetics,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,Immunology,Microbiology
Reference74 articles.
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