Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in a child from angola: diagnosis by direct detection and culture

• Published in: Tropical medicine & international health Vol. 3; no. 3; pp. 189 - 196
• Main Authors: BÄR, W, RÜSCH-GERDES, S, RICHTER, E, MARQUEZ DE BÄR, G, DITTMER, C, PAPSDORF, H, STOSIEK, R, DE RIJK, P. B, MEYERS, W. M, PORTAELS, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford BSL Blackwell Science Ltd 01.03.1998; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Angola; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Child, Preschool; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous - diagnosis; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous - therapy; Mycobacterium ulcerans - isolation & purification; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Thorax; Tropical medicine; Tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections; Angola; Africa; Human; Cell culture; Skin disease; Mycobacterial infection; Infection; Case study; Polymerase chain reaction; Mycobacterium ulcerans; Mycobacteriales; Buruli ulcer; Bacteriosis; Mycobacteriaceae; Bacteria; Actinomycetes; Diagnosis; Molecular biology; Child
• ISSN: 1360-2276; 1365-3156
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3156.1998.00225.x

Buruli ulcer, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is a chronic ulcerative skin disease, found predominantly in central and west Africa and Australia. A boy of 2.5 years of age from Angola was admitted to our hospital with severe kwashiokor and a large ulcer with undermined edges on the left side of the thorax. Further examination revealed anaemia, hypoproteinaemia, bacterial superinfection of the ulcer and intestinal parasites. Histological analysis showed acid-fast bacilli and histopathological changes typical of Buruli ulcer. M. ulcerans was detected by PCR and culture. The patient was treated by surgical excision of diseased skin, followed by split-skin grafting. He also received antibiotic therapy (ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, rifabutin, and dapsone). After six months, the child was discharged from hospital in good condition. This is the first published case of Buruli ulcer from Angola.