@article{99560, keywords = {Cell Biology, Microbiology (medical), Genetics, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Immunology, Microbiology, Buruli ulcer, Mosquitos}, author = {Mee PT and Buultjens AH and Oliver J and Brown K and Crowder JC and Porter JL and Hobbs EC and Judd LM and Taiaroa G and Puttharak N and Williamson DA and Blasdell KR and Tay EL and Feldman R and Muzari MO and Sanders C and Larsen S and Crouch SR and Johnson PDR and Wallace JR and Price DJ and Hoffmann AA and Gibney KB and Stinear TP and Lynch SE}, title = {Mosquitoes provide a transmission route between possums and humans for Buruli ulcer in southeastern Australia}, abstract = {

Buruli 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.

}, year = {2024}, journal = {Nature Microbiology}, volume = {9}, pages = {377-389}, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, issn = {2058-5276}, url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-023-01553-1.pdf}, doi = {10.1038/s41564-023-01553-1}, language = {Eng}, }