Mycobacterium ulcerans Infection is commonly called Buruli ulcer, a rapidly emerging skin disease that is often disfiguring and causes severe and lasting morbidity in communities of developing nations. The mode of transmission is not known but is thought to be associated with ecologically disturbed aquatic habitats. Outbreaks of BU are nearly always associated with slow-flowing aquatic habitats, which many times are affected by, or created from; human-made changes to the landscape. The proposed interdisciplinary study will take a novel approach to examining the spatial and temporal patterns of human environmental disturbance on the ecology of aquatic food webs, and model how these changes interact with the etiologic agent responsible for an emerging mycobacterial disease. The data will be synthesized to predict ecological relationships that contribute to the emergence of a bacterial pathogen, making a substantial contribution to our understanding of broader patterns in disease ecology. We propose to determine landscape factors that influence aquatic food web structure and M. ulcerans distribution within and among aquatic habitats of Ghana, Africa. By integrating GIS and remote sensing technologies with established ecological sampling and assessment techniques and molecular diagnostic tools (PCR) we will determine the ecological distribution and potential factors influencing environmental conditions conducive for M. ulcerans occurrence and distribution at 3 hierarchical spatial scales: landscape, habitat and community. Using this multi-scale, multidisciplinary approach we will provide data and generate predictive models to enhance the scientific understanding necessary for the design, implementation, and evaluation of future and existing Buruli ulcer control programs. The collaborative project will also provide opportunities for data dissemination and professional research networks with other countries in West Africa, such as Benin and Cote d'lvoire, and worldwide through annual meetings of the World Health Organization Buruli Ulcer Initiative. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01TW007550-02
Application #
7126494
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-ICP-2 (53))
Program Officer
Jessup, Christine
Project Start
2005-09-26
Project End
2010-06-30
Budget Start
2006-07-01
Budget End
2007-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$390,600
Indirect Cost
Name
Michigan State University
Department
Zoology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
193247145
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48824
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Williamson, Heather; Phillips, Richard; Sarfo, Stephen et al. (2014) Genetic diversity of PCR-positive, culture-negative and culture-positive Mycobacterium ulcerans isolated from Buruli ulcer patients in Ghana. PLoS One 9:e88007
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McIntosh, Mollie; Williamson, Heather; Benbow, M Eric et al. (2014) Associations between Mycobacterium ulcerans and aquatic plant communities of West Africa: implications for Buruli ulcer disease. Ecohealth 11:184-96
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Gamboa, Maribet; Kimbirauskas, Ryan K; Merritt, Richard W et al. (2012) A molecular approach to identifying the natural prey of the African creeping water bug Naucoris, a potential reservoir of Mycobacterium ulcerans. J Insect Sci 12:2
van Ravensway, Jenni; Benbow, M Eric; Tsonis, Anastasios A et al. (2012) Climate and landscape factors associated with Buruli ulcer incidence in Victoria, Australia. PLoS One 7:e51074
Wallace, John R; Gordon, Matthew C; Hartsell, Lindsey et al. (2010) Interaction of Mycobacterium ulcerans with mosquito species: implications for transmission and trophic relationships. Appl Environ Microbiol 76:6215-22
Merritt, Richard W; Walker, Edward D; Small, Pamela L C et al. (2010) Ecology and transmission of Buruli ulcer disease: a systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 4:e911

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