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Genetic diversity in Mycobacterium ulcerans isolates from Ghana revealed by a newly identified locus containing a variable number of tandem repeats
No full textThe molecular typing methods used so far for Mycobacterium ulcerans isolates have not been able to identify genetic differences among isolates from Africa. This apparent lack of genetic diversity among M. ulcerans isolates is indicative of a clonal population structure. We analyzed the genetic diversity of 72 African isolates, including 57 strains from Ghana, by variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) typing based on a newly identified polymorphic locus designated ST1 and the previously described locus MIRU 1. Three different genotypes were found in Ghana, demonstrating for the first time the genetic diversity of M. ulcerans in an African country. While the ST1/MIRU 1 allele combination BD/BAA seems to dominate in Africa, it was only rarely found in isolates from Ghana, where the combination BD/B was dominant and observed in all districts studied. A third variant genotype (C/BAA) was found only in the Amansie-West district. The results indicate that new genetic variants of M. ulcerans emerged and spread within Ghana and support the potential of VNTR-based typing for genotyping of M. ulcerans
Rapid and inexpensive tools for the detection of drug resistance in tuberculosis: applicability in the field
No full textRole of urban and peri-urban livestock production in poverty alleviation and food security in Africa
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Response to Li et al. and Shaw: Return of the ring; opportunities to challenge a hypothesis [reply]
No full textNegative spatial association between lymphatic filariasis and malaria in West Africa
No full textThe definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.comOBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between human lymphatic filariasis, caused by Wuchereria bancrofti, and falciparum malaria, which are co-endemic throughout West Africa. METHODS: We used geographical information systems and spatial statistics to examine the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis in relation to malaria prevalence, mosquito species distributions, vegetation and climate. RESULTS: A negative spatial association between W. bancrofti and falciparum malaria prevalence exists. Interspecies competition between parasites, seasonality, differences in the distribution and vector competence of Anopheles vectors, agricultural practices and insecticide resistance may be factors driving current (and potentially future) spatial distributions. CONCLUSION: Further investigating these factors will become crucial as large-scale lymphatic filariasis and malaria control programmes are implemented in West Africa that may influence the epidemiology of both diseases
