Aquatic Snails, Passive Hosts of Mycobacterium ulcerans |
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Authors: | Laurent Marsollier Tchibozo Svrin Jacques Aubry Richard W Merritt Jean-Paul Saint Andr Pierre Legras Anne-Lise Manceau Annick Chauty Bernard Carbonnelle and Stewart T Cole |
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Institution: | Laurent Marsollier, Tchibozo Sévérin, Jacques Aubry, Richard W. Merritt, Jean-Paul Saint André, Pierre Legras, Anne-Lise Manceau, Annick Chauty, Bernard Carbonnelle, and Stewart T. Cole |
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Abstract: | Accumulative indirect evidence of the epidemiology of Mycobacterium ulcerans infections causing chronic skin ulcers (i.e., Buruli ulcer disease) suggests that the development of this pathogen and its transmission to humans are related predominantly to aquatic environments. We report that snails could transitorily harbor M. ulcerans without offering favorable conditions for its growth and replication. A novel intermediate link in the transmission chain of M. ulcerans becomes likely with predator aquatic insects in addition to phytophage insects. Water bugs, such as Naucoris cimicoides, a potential vector of M. ulcerans, were shown to be infected specifically by this bacterium after feeding on snails experimentally exposed to M. ulcerans. |
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