TY - JOUR
T1 - Endemic infectious cutaneous ulcers syndrome in the Oti Region of Ghana
T2 - Study of cutaneous leishmaniasis, yaws and Haemophilus ducreyi cutaneous ulcers
AU - Akuffo, Richard Adjei
AU - Sanchez, Carmen
AU - Amanor, Ivy
AU - Amedior, Jennifer Seyram
AU - Kotey, Nana Konama
AU - Anto, Francis
AU - Azurago, Thomas
AU - Ablordey, Anthony
AU - Owusu-Antwi, Felicia
AU - Beshah, Abate
AU - Amoako, Yaw Ampem
AU - Phillips, Richard Odame
AU - Wilson, Michael
AU - Asiedu, Kingsley
AU - Ruiz-Postigo, Jose Antonio
AU - Moreno, Javier
AU - Mokni, Mourad
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Akuffo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
PY - 2023/9
Y1 - 2023/9
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85172795449&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0292034
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0292034
M3 - Article
C2 - 37756291
AN - SCOPUS:85172795449
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 18
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
IS - 9 September
M1 - e0292034
ER -