Title: An update on Mycobacterium ulcerans (Buruli ulcer)
Abstract: Buruli ulcer (BU), also known as Bairnsdale ulcer or Daintree ulcer is a destructive infection of skin and soft tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Humans come into contact with this environmental pathogen only in specific geographic areas. There are at least three long-standing endemic areas in Australia: East Gippsland near Bairnsdale in Victoria, Far North Queensland between Mossman and the Daintree River and a less active focus on the Capricorn Coast of Queensland. In Victoria since the 1990s new endemic foci have appeared on the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas and the disease is now encroaching on some bayside suburbs of Melbourne. In the last 4 years case numbers have increased exponentially with 247 new cases notified in 2017 alone. All age groups are at risk and transmission may occur after very short exposure times of <2 h. However as BU has a long incubation period (median 4.5 months) the exposure history may be overlooked. Diagnosis by PCR is rapid, sensitive and specific but BU is easy to miss if the diagnosis is not considered. In Victoria there is emerging evidence that possums are the primary environmental amplifiers and that human's acquire the disease from biting insects.
Publication Year: 2018
Publication Date: 2018-02-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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