Chemistry of natural waters and its relation to Buruli ulcer in Ghana

Abstract

a b s t r a c tStudy 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.

Landscape and environmental influences on Mycobacterium ulcerans distribution among aquatic sites in Ghana

“…In contrast to our study comparing water quality among M . ulcerans positive and negative sites, Hagarty et al (2015) compared water quality between three endemic and two non-endemic gold mining communities in Ghana [ 59 ]. They found that the study sites tended to be slightly acidic (pH < 7), whereas several sites assessed in our study recorded higher values of pH (pH < 8.7), especially in the Greater Accra region ( S2 Fig ).…”