TY - JOUR
T1 - Chemistry of natural waters and its relation to Buruli ulcer in Ghana
AU - Hagarty, Julianne
AU - Azanu, David
AU - Atosona, Bernadette
AU - Voegborlo, Ray
AU - Smithwick, Erica A.H.
AU - Singha, Kamini
N1 - Funding Information:
We would like to thank Petra Tschakert, Edith Parker, Joseph Oppong, Richard Amankwah, Frank Nyame, Heidi Hausermann, David Ferring, Lindsay Kromel, Savior Mantey, Rose Sandow, Yakubu Iddrisu Goro, Charles Abbey, and Emmanuel Effah for their contributions in the field and laboratory. Funding for this work came from National Science Foundation CNH Award #0909447 to Drs. Petra Tschakert, Erica Smithwick, Kamini Singha, Joseph Oppong, Edith Parker, and Annmarie Ward.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 The Authors.
PY - 2015/3/1
Y1 - 2015/3/1
N2 - Study region: Buruli ulcer, an emerging disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, largely affects poor rural populations in tropical countries. The environmental niche that supports this necrotizing bacterium is unclear. Here, water samples were collected from five communities within Ghana in the rainy season in 2011: four in the southern part of Ghana (three disease-endemic communities: Pokukrom, Betenase, and Ayanfuri, and one control: Kedadwen) and one non-endemic community (Nangruma) in the north. Study focus: Past studies of Buruli ulcer conclude that water quality is, in some way, closely related to the transmission of this disease. This work serves as a first step to explore links between Buruli ulcer incidence and water quality. More broadly, this research works toward identifying the environmental niche for M. ulcerans, providing characterization of water bodies hazardous to human health in at-risk communities. New hydrological insights: Trace metals, thought to aid in the preferential growth of M. ulcerans, are present in higher concentrations in mining pits and stagnant pools than in other tested water bodies. Arsenic in particular could serve as a double threat for BU incidence: it could support the growth of M. ulcerans while suppressing immune systems, making the population more susceptible to disease. Few other differences between endemic and non-endemic communities exist, implying other variables such as human behavior may also control the onset of Buruli ulcer.
AB - Study region: Buruli ulcer, an emerging disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, largely affects poor rural populations in tropical countries. The environmental niche that supports this necrotizing bacterium is unclear. Here, water samples were collected from five communities within Ghana in the rainy season in 2011: four in the southern part of Ghana (three disease-endemic communities: Pokukrom, Betenase, and Ayanfuri, and one control: Kedadwen) and one non-endemic community (Nangruma) in the north. Study focus: Past studies of Buruli ulcer conclude that water quality is, in some way, closely related to the transmission of this disease. This work serves as a first step to explore links between Buruli ulcer incidence and water quality. More broadly, this research works toward identifying the environmental niche for M. ulcerans, providing characterization of water bodies hazardous to human health in at-risk communities. New hydrological insights: Trace metals, thought to aid in the preferential growth of M. ulcerans, are present in higher concentrations in mining pits and stagnant pools than in other tested water bodies. Arsenic in particular could serve as a double threat for BU incidence: it could support the growth of M. ulcerans while suppressing immune systems, making the population more susceptible to disease. Few other differences between endemic and non-endemic communities exist, implying other variables such as human behavior may also control the onset of Buruli ulcer.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ejrh.2015.03.006
DO - 10.1016/j.ejrh.2015.03.006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84927639622
SN - 2214-5818
VL - 3
SP - 457
EP - 472
JO - Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
JF - Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
ER -