Infection with Mansonella perstans Nematodes in Buruli Ulcer Patients, Ghana

Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Jun;20(6):1000-3. doi: 10.3201/eid2006.131501.

Abstract

During August 2010-December 2012, we conducted a study of patients in Ghana who had Buruli ulcer, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, and found that 23% were co-infected with Mansonella perstans nematodes; 13% of controls also had M. perstans infection. M. perstans co-infection should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of Buruli ulcer.

Keywords: Buruli ulcer; Ghana; Mansonella perstans; Mycobacterium ulcerans; bacteria; co-infection; filariae; nematodes; parasites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Buruli Ulcer / diagnosis
  • Buruli Ulcer / epidemiology*
  • Buruli Ulcer / microbiology
  • Child
  • Coinfection
  • Female
  • Ghana / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Mansonella / isolation & purification*
  • Mansonelliasis / diagnosis
  • Mansonelliasis / epidemiology*
  • Mansonelliasis / parasitology
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium ulcerans / isolation & purification*
  • Retrospective Studies