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Fortney KR, Brothwell JA, Batteiger TA, Duplantier R, Katz BP, Spinola SM. A Haemophilus ducreyi strain lacking the yfeABCD iron transport system is virulent in human volunteers. Infect Immun 2024:e0005824. [PMID: 38780215 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00058-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Haemophilus ducreyi causes the genital ulcer disease chancroid and painful cutaneous ulcers in children who live in the tropics. To acquire heme from the host, H. ducreyi expresses a TonB-dependent hemoglobin receptor, HgbA, which is necessary and sufficient for H. ducreyi to progress to the pustular stage of disease in a controlled human infection model. HgbA transports hemoglobin across the outer membrane; how heme is transported across the cytoplasmic membrane is unclear. In previous studies, transcripts encoding the YfeABCD heme transporter were upregulated in experimental lesions caused by H. ducreyi in human volunteers, suggesting the latter may have a role in virulence. Here we constructed a double deletion mutant, 35000HPΔyfeABΔyfeCD, which exhibited growth defects relative to its parent 35000HP in media containing human hemoglobin as an iron source. Five human volunteers were inoculated at three sites on the skin overlying the deltoid with each strain. The results of the trial showed that papules formed at 100% (95% CI, 71.5, 100) at both 35000HP and 35000HPΔyfeABΔyfeCD-inoculated sites (P = 1.0). Pustules formed at 60% (95% CI, 25.9, 94.1) at parent-inoculated sites and 53% (95% CI, 18.3, 88.4) at mutant-inoculated sites (P = 0.79). Thus, the ABC transporter encoded by yfeAB and yfeCD was dispensable for H. ducreyi virulence in humans. In the absence of YfeABCD, H. ducreyi likely utilizes other periplasmic binding proteins and ABC-transporters such as HbpA, SapABCDF, and DppBCDF to shuttle heme from the periplasm into the cytoplasm, underscoring the importance of redundancy of such systems in gram-negative pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate R Fortney
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Julie A Brothwell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Teresa A Batteiger
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Rory Duplantier
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Barry P Katz
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Stanley M Spinola
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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2
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Stabile HD, McCandless K, Donlan RA, Gaston JR, Humphreys TL. Transmission of viable Haemophilus ducreyi by Musca domestica. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012194. [PMID: 38814945 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Haemophilus ducreyi was historically known as the causative agent of chancroid, a sexually-transmitted disease causing painful genital ulcers endemic in many low/middle-income nations. In recent years the species has been implicated as the causative agent of nongenital cutaneous ulcers affecting children of the South Pacific Islands and West African countries. Much is still unknown about the mechanism of H. ducreyi transmission in these areas, and recent studies have identified local insect species, namely flies, as potential transmission vectors. H. ducreyi DNA has been detected on the surface and in homogenates of fly species sampled from Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea. The current study develops a model system using Musca domestica, the common house fly, as a model organism to demonstrate proof of concept that flies are a potential vector for the transmission of viable H. ducreyi. Utilizing a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged strain of H. ducreyi and three separate exposure methods, we detected the transmission of viable H. ducreyi by 86.11% ± 22.53% of flies sampled. Additionally, the duration of H. ducreyi viability was found to be directly related to the bacterial concentration, and transmission of H. ducreyi was largely undetectable within one hour of initial exposure. Push testing, Gram staining, and PCR were used to confirm the identity and presence of GFP colonies as H. ducreyi. This study confirms that flies are capable of mechanically transmitting viable H. ducreyi, illuminating the importance of investigating insects as vectors of cutaneous ulcerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley D Stabile
- Department of Biology, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kayla McCandless
- Department of Biology, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Krystal Biotech, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Rachel A Donlan
- Department of Biology, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jordan R Gaston
- Department of Biology, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, St. Margaret Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Tricia L Humphreys
- Department of Biology, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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3
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Knauf S, Hisgen L, Ågren EO, Barlow AM, Faehndrich M, Voigt U, Fischer L, Grillová L, Hallmaier-Wacker LK, Kik MJL, Klink JC, Křenová J, Lavazza A, Lüert S, Nováková M, Čejková D, Pacioni C, Trogu T, Šmajs D, Roos C. High prevalence and genetic diversity of Treponema paraluisleporidarum isolates in European lagomorphs. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0177423. [PMID: 38095473 PMCID: PMC10783078 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01774-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Syphilis is an ancient disease of humans and lagomorphs caused by two distinct but genetically closely related bacteria (>98% sequence identity based on the whole genome) of the genus Treponema. While human syphilis is well studied, little is known about the disease in the lagomorph host. Yet, comparative studies are needed to understand mechanisms in host-pathogen coevolution in treponematoses. Importantly, Treponema paraluisleporidarum-infected hare populations provide ample opportunity to study the syphilis-causing pathogen in a naturally infected model population without antibiotic treatment, data that cannot be obtained from syphilis infection in humans. We provide data on genetic diversity and are able to highlight various types of repetitions in one of the two hypervariable regions at the tp0548 locus that have not been described in the human syphilis-causing sister bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Knauf
- Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Germany
- Infection Biology Unit, Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Professorship for International Animal Health/One Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Linda Hisgen
- Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Germany
- Infection Biology Unit, Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Erik O. Ågren
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alexander M. Barlow
- Wildlife Network for Disease Surveillance, Bristol Veterinary School, Langford, Somerset, United Kingdom
| | - Marcus Faehndrich
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Ulrich Voigt
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Luisa Fischer
- Wildlife Research Institute, State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection North Rhine-Westphalia, Bonn, Germany
| | - Linda Grillová
- Department of Biology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Luisa K. Hallmaier-Wacker
- Infection Biology Unit, Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marja J. L. Kik
- Pathology Division, Department of Biomedical Health Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jana C. Klink
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Jitka Křenová
- Department of Biology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Antonio Lavazza
- Department of Animal Health and Welfare – Virology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simone Lüert
- Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Germany
- Infection Biology Unit, Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Darina Čejková
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czechia
| | - Carlo Pacioni
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Tiziana Trogu
- Department of Animal Health and Welfare – Virology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Brescia, Italy
| | - David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Christian Roos
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Gene Bank of Primates, Deutsches Primatenzentrum GmbH, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
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Ndzomo P, Tchatchouang S, Njih Tabah E, Njamnshi T, Tsanga MVN, Bondi JA, Handley R, González Beiras C, Tchatchueng J, Müller C, Lüert S, Knauf S, Boyomo O, Harding-Esch E, Mitja O, Crucitti T, Marks M, Eyangoh S. Prevalence and risk factors associated with Haemophilus ducreyi cutaneous ulcers in Cameroon. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011553. [PMID: 38150487 PMCID: PMC10791135 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemics of yaws-like cutaneous ulcers are regularly documented in children in the tropics. They occur mainly in poor and remote communities without access to health facilities. The integration of molecular tools into yaws control efforts has made it possible to describe Haemophilus ducreyi (HD) as a major cause of cutaneous ulcers. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HD as cause of cutaneous ulcers, investigate its presence in asymptomatic individuals and identify associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in yaws endemic districts of Cameroon. Participants included people presenting yaws-like ulcers and asymptomatic individuals. Swab samples were collected from each participant and tested for HD and Treponema pallidum (TP) using an established qPCR method. Additionally, demographic, habitat, proximity, and hygiene characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire. A total of 443 individuals participated in the study, including 271 ulcer cases and 172 asymptomatic contacts. The prevalence of HD in ulcers was 30.3% (Confidence Interval (CI) 95% [24.8-35.7]) and the prevalence of asymptomatic HD carriage was 8.6% (CI95% [4.5-12.9]). TP was also detected in our sample among ulcer cases but in lower proportion (5.2% CI95% [2.5-7.8]) compared to HD. The adjusted logistic regression model showed that women were as much at risk of having HD cutaneous ulcer as men regardless of age. Physical proximity to a confirmed ulcer case was the major factor identified favouring HD transmission. HD ulcers were more likely to be present on Bantu individuals compared to Baka as well as HD colonization. These findings highlight HD as the most common cause of cutaneous ulcers in yaws-endemic communities in Cameroon. The exact implications of detecting HD on intact skin are not yet clear. Further studies are needed to understand the significance of this carriage in the spread dynamics of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Ndzomo
- Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | | | - Earnest Njih Tabah
- National Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, West Cameroon
| | - Theophilus Njamnshi
- National Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | | | | | - Rebecca Handley
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Camila González Beiras
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | | | - Claudia Müller
- Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald—Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Simone Lüert
- Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald—Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Sascha Knauf
- Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald—Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Onana Boyomo
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Emma Harding-Esch
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Oriol Mitja
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Tania Crucitti
- Experimental Bacteriology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Michael Marks
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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5
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Akuffo RA, Sanchez C, Amanor I, Amedior JS, Kotey NK, Anto F, Azurago T, Ablordey A, Owusu-Antwi F, Beshah A, Amoako YA, Phillips RO, Wilson M, Asiedu K, Ruiz-Postigo JA, Moreno J, Mokni M. Endemic infectious cutaneous ulcers syndrome in the Oti Region of Ghana: Study of cutaneous leishmaniasis, yaws and Haemophilus ducreyi cutaneous ulcers. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292034. [PMID: 37756291 PMCID: PMC10529585 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A recent study detected cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in 31.9% of persons with skin ulcers in the Oti Region of Ghana, resulting in a need to investigate other potential causes of the unexplained skin ulcers. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Oti region to investigate skin ulcers of undetermined aetiologies. To confirm a diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis, Buruli ulcer, Haemophilus ducreyi ulcers, or yaws, DNA obtained from each patient skin ulcer sample was systematically subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Leishmania spp., Mycobacterium ulcerans, Haemophilus ducreyi, and Treponema pallidum sub species pertenue. A total of 101 skin ulcer samples were obtained from 101 persons. Co-infection of more than one organism was observed in 68.3% of the samples. Forty (39.6%) participants had a positive result for Leishmania spp., 68 (67.3%) for Treponema pallidum sub. Sp. pertenue, and 74 (73.3%) for H. ducreyi. Twenty (19.8%) of the patient ulcers were simultaneously infected with Leishmania spp., Treponema pallidum sub. Sp. pertenue, and H. ducreyi. None of the patients' lesions yielded a positive result for Mycobacterium ulcerans. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE This study detected single and mixed occurrence of the causative organisms of CL, yaws, and H. ducreyi cutaneous ulcers in CL endemic communities of the Oti Region in Ghana. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating multiple skin diseases on a common research platform and calls for the development of a comprehensive guideline for diagnosing and treating tropical ulcers in the study areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Adjei Akuffo
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Carmen Sanchez
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBERINFEC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ivy Amanor
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | | | - Francis Anto
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Anthony Ablordey
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Abate Beshah
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
| | - Yaw Ampem Amoako
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richard Odame Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Wilson
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kingsley Asiedu
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jose-Antonio Ruiz-Postigo
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Javier Moreno
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBERINFEC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mourad Mokni
- La Rabta Hospital Dermatology Department, Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of al-Manar 2, Tunis, Tunisia
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6
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Handley BL, Tchatchouang S, Grout L, Johnson RC, Tabah EN, Boua B, Boock AU, Koffi AP, Phanzu DM, Kotey NK, Rogers E, Dofitas B, Jung Y, Maweke T, Beiras CG, Maman I, Basing LA, Ngazoa SK, Houezo JG, Togbey K, Telan EF, Sarmento N, Marion E, Addo KK, Mitjà O, Asiedu K, Harding-Esch E, Marks M. Evaluating the yaws diagnostic gap: A survey to determine the capacity of and barriers to improving diagnostics in all yaws-endemic countries. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.969219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundYaws, caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue, is a skin neglected tropical disease. It is targeted for eradication by 2030, primarily using mass drug administration (MDA) with azithromycin. Traditionally, diagnosis of yaws has relied on clinical examination and serological testing. However, these approaches have poor diagnostic performance. To achieve eradication, more accurate diagnostics are required to determine whether MDA should be initiated or continued as well as for post-elimination surveillance. Molecular tools will be crucial for detecting antimicrobial resistant cases, which have the potential to derail eradication efforts. In order to determine the feasibility of introducing novel, more accurate, diagnostics for yaws surveillance purposes, it is necessary to understand current in-country diagnostic capacity. This study therefore aimed to understand the current capacity of, and challenges to, improving diagnostics for yaws in all yaws-endemic countries worldwide.Methodology/principal findingsAn online survey was sent to all 15 yaws-endemic countries in July 2021. The survey asked about past prevalence estimates, the availability of different diagnostic tools, and perceived barriers to enhancing capacity. Fourteen countries responded to the survey, four of which did not have a current National Policy for yaws eradication in place. Over 95% of reported that yaws cases from the past five years had not been confirmed with serological or molecular tools, largely due to the limited supply of rapid serological tests. Only four countries reported having operational laboratories for molecular yaws diagnosis, with only one of these having a validated assay to detect azithromycin resistance.Conclusions and significanceThis study highlights the diagnostic capacity constraints across all respondent countries. Countries are in need of access to a sustainable supply of serological tests, and development of molecular testing facilities. Sufficient sustainable funding should be made available to ensure that appropriate diagnostic tools are available and utilised.
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7
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Ulcerative skin lesions among children in Cameroon: It is not always Yaws. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009180. [PMID: 33591973 PMCID: PMC7909670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of yaws-like ulcerative skin lesions in children are frequently reported in tropical and sub-tropical countries. The origin of these lesions might be primarily traumatic or infectious; in the latter case, Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, the yaws agent, and Haemophilus ducreyi, the agent of chancroid, are two of the pathogens commonly associated with the aetiology of skin ulcers. In this work, we investigated the presence of T. p. pertenue and H. ducreyi DNA in skin ulcers in children living in yaws-endemic regions in Cameroon. Skin lesion swabs were collected from children presenting with yaws-suspected skin lesions during three outbreaks, two of which occurred in 2017 and one in 2019. DNA extracted from the swabs was used to amplify three target genes: the human β2-microglobulin gene to confirm proper sample collection and DNA extraction, the polA gene, highly conserved among all subspecies of T. pallidum, and the hddA gene of H. ducreyi. A fourth target, the tprL gene was used to differentiate T. p. pertenue from the other agents of human treponematoses in polA-positive samples. A total of 112 samples were analysed in this study. One sample, negative for β2-microglobulin, was excluded from further analysis. T. p. pertenue was only detected in the samples collected during the first 2017 outbreak (12/74, 16.2%). In contrast, H. ducreyi DNA could be amplified from samples from all three outbreaks (outbreak 1: 27/74, 36.5%; outbreak 2: 17/24, 70.8%; outbreak 3: 11/13, 84.6%). Our results show that H. ducreyi was more frequently associated to skin lesions in the examined children than T. p. pertenue, but also that yaws is still present in Cameroon. These findings strongly advocate for a continuous effort to determine the aetiology of ulcerative skin lesions during these recurring outbreaks, and to inform the planned mass treatment campaigns to eliminate yaws in Cameroon.
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8
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Brothwell JA, Griesenauer B, Chen L, Spinola SM. Interactions of the Skin Pathogen Haemophilus ducreyi With the Human Host. Front Immunol 2021; 11:615402. [PMID: 33613541 PMCID: PMC7886810 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.615402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The obligate human pathogen Haemophilus ducreyi causes both cutaneous ulcers in children and sexually transmitted genital ulcers (chancroid) in adults. Pathogenesis is dependent on avoiding phagocytosis and exploiting the suppurative granuloma-like niche, which contains a myriad of innate immune cells and memory T cells. Despite this immune infiltrate, long-lived immune protection does not develop against repeated H. ducreyi infections—even with the same strain. Most of what we know about infectious skin diseases comes from naturally occurring infections and/or animal models; however, for H. ducreyi, this information comes from an experimental model of infection in human volunteers that was developed nearly three decades ago. The model mirrors the progression of natural disease and serves as a valuable tool to determine the composition of the immune cell infiltrate early in disease and to identify host and bacterial factors that are required for the establishment of infection and disease progression. Most recently, holistic investigation of the experimentally infected skin microenvironment using multiple “omics” techniques has revealed that non-canonical bacterial virulence factors, such as genes involved in central metabolism, may be relevant to disease progression. Thus, the immune system not only defends the host against H. ducreyi, but also dictates the nutrient availability for the invading bacteria, which must adapt their gene expression to exploit the inflammatory metabolic niche. These findings have broadened our view of the host-pathogen interaction network from considering only classical, effector-based virulence paradigms to include adaptations to the metabolic environment. How both host and bacterial factors interact to determine infection outcome is a current focus in the field. Here, we review what we have learned from experimental H. ducreyi infection about host-pathogen interactions, make comparisons to what is known for other skin pathogens, and discuss how novel technologies will deepen our understanding of this infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Brothwell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Brad Griesenauer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Stanley M Spinola
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States.,Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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9
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Streptococcus pyogenes Is Associated with Idiopathic Cutaneous Ulcers in Children on a Yaws-Endemic Island. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.03162-20. [PMID: 33436440 PMCID: PMC7844543 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03162-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Exudative cutaneous ulcers (CU) in yaws-endemic areas are associated with Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue (TP) and Haemophilus ducreyi (HD), but one-third of CU cases are idiopathic (IU). Using mass drug administration (MDA) of azithromycin, a yaws eradication campaign on Lihir Island in Papua New Guinea reduced but failed to eradicate yaws; IU rates remained constant throughout the campaign. To identify potential etiologies of IU, we obtained swabs of CU lesions (n = 279) and of the skin of asymptomatic controls (AC; n = 233) from the Lihir Island cohort and characterized their microbiomes using a metagenomics approach. CU bacterial communities were less diverse than those of the AC. Using real-time multiplex PCR with pathogen-specific primers, we separated CU specimens into HD-positive (HD+), TP+, HD+TP+, and IU groups. Each CU subgroup formed a distinct bacterial community, defined by the species detected and/or the relative abundances of species within each group. Streptococcus pyogenes was the most abundant organism in IU (22.65%) and was enriched in IU compared to other ulcer groups. Follow-up samples (n = 31) were obtained from nonhealed ulcers; the average relative abundance of S. pyogenes was 30.11% in not improved ulcers and 0.88% in improved ulcers, suggesting that S. pyogenes in the not improved ulcers may be azithromycin resistant. Catonella morbi was enriched in IU that lacked S. pyogenes As some S. pyogenes and TP strains are macrolide resistant, penicillin may be the drug of choice for CU azithromycin treatment failures. Our study will aid in the design of diagnostic tests and selective therapies for CU.IMPORTANCE Cutaneous ulcers (CU) affect approximately 100,000 children in the tropics each year. While two-thirds of CU are caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue and Haemophilus ducreyi, the cause(s) of the remaining one-third is unknown. Given the failure of mass drug administration of azithromycin to eradicate CU, the World Health Organization recently proposed an integrated disease management strategy to control CU. Success of this strategy requires determining the unknown cause(s) of CU. By using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of swabs obtained from CU and the skin of asymptomatic children, we identified another possible cause of skin ulcers, Streptococcus pyogenes Although S. pyogenes is known to cause impetigo and cellulitis, this is the first report implicating the organism as a causal agent of CU. Inclusion of S. pyogenes into the integrated disease management plan will improve diagnostic testing and treatment of this painful and debilitating disease of children and strengthen elimination efforts.
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G-Beiras C, Ubals M, Corbacho-Monné M, Vall-Mayans M, Mitjà O. Yaws, Haemophilus ducreyi, and Other Bacterial Causes of Cutaneous Ulcer Disease in the South Pacific Islands. Dermatol Clin 2020; 39:15-22. [PMID: 33228858 DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous ulcers in the tropics are a painful and debilitating condition that anchors people into poverty. In rural regions of the South Pacific, infectious cutaneous ulcers are caused mainly by bacteria, including Treponema pallidum pertenue (yaws), Haemophilus ducreyi, and polymicrobial ulcers. For this group of infections the term cutaneous ulcer disease (CUD) is proposed. Some infections can cause malformations on the bone that have a permanent impact on lives in endemic communities. Better characterization of CUD may help design diagnostic tools and more effective antimicrobial therapies. This review updates the knowledge of CUD and discusses optimized terminology and syndromic management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila G-Beiras
- Fight AIDS and Infectious Diseases Foundation, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Maria Ubals
- Fight AIDS and Infectious Diseases Foundation, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain; Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Martí Vall-Mayans
- Fight AIDS and Infectious Diseases Foundation, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain; Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Oriol Mitjà
- Fight AIDS and Infectious Diseases Foundation, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain; Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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11
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Okine RNA, Sarfo B, Adanu RM, Kwakye-Maclean C, Osei FA. Factors associated with cutaneous ulcers among children in two yaws-endemic districts in Ghana. Infect Dis Poverty 2020; 9:26. [PMID: 32160927 PMCID: PMC7066816 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-020-00641-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Yaws is a chronic relapsing disease caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pertunue, which can result in severe disability and deformities. Children below the age of 15 years in resource-poor communities are the most affected. Several non-specific factors facilitate the continuous transmission and resurgence of the disease. Endemic communities in rural Ghana continue to report cases despite the roll out of several intervention strategies in the past years. The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with cutaneous ulcers among children in two yaws-endemic districts in Ghana. Methods A community-based unmatched 1:2 case-control study was conducted among children between 1 and 15 years. Data on socio-demographic, environmental and behavioral factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Active case search and confirmation was done using the Dual Path Platform (DPP) Syphilis Screen and Confirm test kit. Data were analyzed using STATA 15. Logistic regression was done to determine the exposures that were associated with yaws infection at 0.05 significant level. Results Sixty-two cases and 124 controls were recruited for the study. The adjusted multivariable logistic regression model showed that yaws infection was more likely among individuals who reside in overcrowded compound houses (aOR = 25.42, 95% CI: 6.15–105.09) and with poor handwashing habits (aOR = 6.46, 95% CI: 1.89–22.04). Male (aOR = 4.15, 95% CI: 1.29–13.36) and increasing age (aOR = 5.90, 95% CI: 1.97–17.67) were also associated with yaws infection. Conclusions Poor personal hygiene, overcrowding and lack of access to improved sanitary facilities are the factors that facilitate the transmission of yaws in the Awutu Senya West and Upper West Akyem districts. Yaws was also more common among males and school-aged children. Improving living conditions, access to good sanitary facilities and encouraging good personal hygiene practices should be core features of eradication programs in endemic communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bismark Sarfo
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, College of Health, Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Richard M Adanu
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, College of Health, Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, College of Health, Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Francis Adjei Osei
- Public Health Unit, Komfo-Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. .,KNUST School of Public Health, Kumasi, Ghana.
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12
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Grant JC, González-Beiras C, Amick KM, Fortney KR, Gangaiah D, Humphreys TL, Mitjà O, Abecasis A, Spinola SM. Multiple Class I and Class II Haemophilus ducreyi Strains Cause Cutaneous Ulcers in Children on an Endemic Island. Clin Infect Dis 2019; 67:1768-1774. [PMID: 29897409 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Together with Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, Haemophilus ducreyi is a major cause of exudative cutaneous ulcers (CUs) in children. For H. ducreyi, both class I and class II strains, asymptomatic colonization, and environmental reservoirs have been found in endemic regions, but the epidemiology of this infection is unknown. Methods Based on published whole-genome sequences of H. ducreyi CU strains, a single-locus typing system was developed and applied to H. ducreyi-positive CU samples obtained prior to, 1 year after, and 2 years after the initiation of a mass drug administration campaign to eradicate CU on Lihir Island in Papua New Guinea. DNA from the CU samples was amplified with class I and class II dsrA-specific primers and sequenced; the samples were classified into dsrA types, which were geospatially mapped. Selection pressure analysis was performed on the dsrA sequences. Results Thirty-seven samples contained class I sequences, 27 contained class II sequences, and 13 contained both. There were 5 class I and 4 class II types circulating on the island; 3 types accounted for approximately 87% of the strains. The composition and geospatial distribution of the types varied little over time and there was no evidence of selection pressure. Conclusions Multiple strains of H. ducreyi cause CU on an endemic island and coinfections are common. In contrast to recent findings with T. pallidum pertenue, strain composition is not affected by antibiotic pressure, consistent with environmental reservoirs of H. ducreyi. Such reservoirs must be addressed to achieve eradication of H. ducreyi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob C Grant
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
| | | | - Kristen M Amick
- Department of Biology, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania
| | - Kate R Fortney
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
| | - Dharanesh Gangaiah
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
| | | | - Oriol Mitjà
- Lihir Medical Centre-International SOS, Newcrest Mining, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea.,Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain.,School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby
| | - Ana Abecasis
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Stanley M Spinola
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.,Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
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A Class I Haemophilus ducreyi Strain Containing a Class II hgbA Allele Is Partially Attenuated in Humans: Implications for HgbA Vaccine Efficacy Trials. Infect Immun 2019; 87:IAI.00112-19. [PMID: 31036601 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00112-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Haemophilus ducreyi causes chancroid and is a major cause of cutaneous ulcers in children. Due to environmental reservoirs, both class I and class II H. ducreyi strains persist in cutaneous ulcer regions of endemicity following mass drug administration of azithromycin, suggesting the need for a vaccine. The hemoglobin receptor (HgbA) is a leading vaccine candidate, but its efficacy in animal models is class specific. Controlled human infection models can be used to evaluate vaccines, but only a class I strain (35000HP) has been characterized in this model. As a prelude to evaluating HgbA vaccines in the human model, we tested here whether a derivative of 35000HP containing a class II hgbA allele (FX548) is as virulent as 35000HP in humans. In eight volunteers infected at three sites with each strain, the papule formation rate was 95.8% for 35000HP versus 62.5% for FX548 (P = 0.021). Excluding doses of FX548 that were ≥2-fold higher than those of 35000HP, the pustule formation rate was 25% for 35000HP versus 11.7% for FX548 (P = 0.0053). By Western blot analysis, FX548 and 35000HP expressed equivalent amounts of HgbA in whole-cell lysates and outer membranes. The growth of FX548 and 35000HP was similar in media containing hemoglobin or hemin. By whole-genome sequencing and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis, FX548 contained no mutations in open reading frames other than hgbA We conclude that by an unknown mechanism, FX548 is partially attenuated in humans and is not a suitable strain for HgbA vaccine efficacy trials in the model.
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Determination of an Interaction Network between an Extracellular Bacterial Pathogen and the Human Host. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.01193-19. [PMID: 31213562 PMCID: PMC6581864 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01193-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dual RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) offers the promise of determining an interactome at a transcriptional level between a bacterium and the host but has yet to be done on any bacterial infection in human tissue. We performed dual RNA-seq and metabolomics analyses on wounded and infected sites following experimental infection of the arm with H. ducreyi. Our results suggest that H. ducreyi survives in an abscess by utilizing l-ascorbate as an alternative carbon source, possibly taking advantage of host ascorbic acid recycling, and that H. ducreyi also adapts by upregulating genes involved in anaerobic metabolism and inorganic ion and nutrient transport. To our knowledge, this is the first description of an interaction network between a bacterium and the human host at a site of infection. A major gap in understanding infectious diseases is the lack of information about molecular interaction networks between pathogens and the human host. Haemophilus ducreyi causes the genital ulcer disease chancroid in adults and is a leading cause of cutaneous ulcers in children in the tropics. We developed a model in which human volunteers are infected on the upper arm with H. ducreyi until they develop pustules. To define the H. ducreyi and human interactome, we determined bacterial and host transcriptomic and host metabolomic changes in pustules. We found that in vivoH. ducreyi transcripts were distinct from those in the inocula, as were host transcripts in pustule and wounded control sites. Many of the upregulated H. ducreyi genes were found to be involved in ascorbic acid and anaerobic metabolism and inorganic ion/nutrient transport. The top 20 significantly expressed human pathways showed that all were involved in immune responses. We generated a bipartite network for interactions between host and bacterial gene transcription; multiple positively correlated networks contained H. ducreyi genes involved in anaerobic metabolism and host genes involved with the immune response. Metabolomic studies showed that pustule and wounded samples had different metabolite compositions; the top ion pathway involved ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, which correlated with the H. ducreyi transcriptional response and upregulation of host genes involved in ascorbic acid recycling. These data show that an interactome exists between H. ducreyi and the human host and suggest that H. ducreyi exploits the metabolic niche created by the host immune response.
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Advances in the Treatment of Yaws. Trop Med Infect Dis 2018; 3:tropicalmed3030092. [PMID: 30274488 PMCID: PMC6161241 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed3030092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Yaws is one of the three endemic treponematoses and is recognised by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease. Yaws is currently reported in 15 countries in the Pacific, South-East Asia, West and Central Africa, predominantly affects children, and results in destructive lesions of the skin and soft tissues. For most of the twentieth century penicillin-based treatment was the standard of care and resistance to penicillin has still not been described. Recently, oral azithromycin has been shown to be an effective treatment for yaws, facilitating renewed yaws eradication efforts. Resistance to azithromycin is an emerging threat and close surveillance will be required as yaws eradication efforts are scaled up globally.
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González-Beiras C, Kapa A, Vall-Mayans M, Paru R, Gavilán S, Houinei W, Bieb S, Sanz S, Martins R, Mitjà O. Single-Dose Azithromycin for the Treatment of Haemophilus ducreyi Skin Ulcers in Papua New Guinea. Clin Infect Dis 2018; 65:2085-2090. [PMID: 29020192 DOI: 10.1093/cid/cix723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Haemophilus ducreyi (HD) and Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue (TP) are major causative agents of cutaneous ulcer (CU) in the tropics. Azithromycin is recommended to treat sexually transmitted HD infections and has good in vitro activity against HD strains from both genital and skin ulcers. We investigated the efficacy of oral single-dose azithromycin on HD-CU. Methods We conducted a community-based cohort study in Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea, from October 2014 through May 2016. Consenting patients with skin ulcers >1 cm in diameter were eligible for this study and had collected a lesional swab for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All participants were treated with single-dose azithromycin (30 mg/kg) and were followed up for assessment of clinical resolution. We retrospectively classified patients according to PCR results into HD, TP, and PCR-negative groups. The primary endpoint was healing rates of HD-CU at 14 days after treatment. Results We obtained full outcome data from 246 patients; 131 (53.3%) were HD PCR positive, 37 (15.0%) were TP positive, and 78 (31.7%) were negative for all tests. Healing rates were 88.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], .82-.93) in the HD group, 78.4% [95% CI, .63-.89] in the TP group, and 74.4% (95% CI, .64-.83) in the PCR-negative group. If we included the participants with improved ulcers, the healing rates increased to 94.7%, 97.3%, and 89.7% respectively. HD cases classified as not healed all converted to HD-negative PCR. Conclusions Based upon clinical resolution and PCR conversion to HD negative, a single oral dose of azithromycin is efficacious for the treatment of HD-CU. These results have implications for the treatment of individual patients and for the use of antibiotics in public health strategies to control CU in the tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila González-Beiras
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain.,Global Public Health PhD Program, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nova University of Lisbon, Portugal
| | - August Kapa
- Lihir Medical Centre-International SOS, Newcrest Mining, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea
| | - Marti Vall-Mayans
- Sexually Transmitted Infections Unit, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raymond Paru
- Lihir Medical Centre-International SOS, Newcrest Mining, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea
| | - Sergi Gavilán
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wendy Houinei
- Disease Control Branch, National Department of Health, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
| | - Sibauk Bieb
- Disease Control Branch, National Department of Health, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
| | - Sergi Sanz
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosario Martins
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nova University of Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Oriol Mitjà
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain.,Lihir Medical Centre-International SOS, Newcrest Mining, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea.,School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby
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van Hattem JM, Langeveld TJC, Bruisten SM, Kolader M, Grobusch MP, de Vries HJC, de Bree GJ. Haemophilus ducreyi cutaneous ulcer contracted at Seram Island, Indonesia, presented in the Netherlands. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006273. [PMID: 29649298 PMCID: PMC5896912 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Overview We describe the first case of a cutaneous ulcer caused by Haemophilus ducreyi imported from Indonesia to the Netherlands. Skin infections caused by H. ducreyi are uncommon in travellers and have been described in just a few case reports and were all contracted on the Pacific Islands. The case A 22-year-old healthy male visited the Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine in February 2017 with a cutaneous ulcer of the right lateral malleolus 4 weeks after returning from Indonesia (Seram and Ambon Islands). He had noticed a small skin abrasion on the right ankle after slipping on a rock during a jungle trip on Seram Island. Back in the Netherlands, a painful ulcer developed at the same body location, and despite treatment with flucloxacillin, his complaints worsened. A swab that was taken for culture showed growth of small grey colonies that were characterised as H. ducreyi with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Treatment with ciprofloxacin for the diagnosis of H. ducreyi cutaneous ulcer was started, and the ulcer clearly diminished, leaving only a small healing ulcer. Discussion H. ducreyi is normally the causative agent of genital ulcers but is increasingly recognised as a cause of chronic skin ulcers, e.g., in Papua New Guinea. In our patient, the infection was very likely contracted in the Maluku province of Indonesia and imported into the Netherlands. No reports of infection with H. ducreyi from Indonesia could be found in literature, but this case indicates that H. ducreyi is present in at least one of the northeastern islands of Indonesia, which is important for local healthcare. Additionally, it illustrates the role of this agent as a cause of cutaneous ulcers in previously healthy travellers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarne M. van Hattem
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Tessa J. C. Langeveld
- Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sylvia M. Bruisten
- Public Health Laboratory (PHL), Department of Infectious Diseases, GGD/Public Health Service Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute (AI&II), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marion Kolader
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martin P. Grobusch
- Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Henry J. C. de Vries
- Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute (AI&II), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- STI Outpatient Clinic, Department of Infectious Diseases, GGD/Public Health Service Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Dermatology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Godelieve J. de Bree
- Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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