Buruli ulcer in Africa: Geographical distribution, ecology, risk factors, diagnosis, and indigenous plant treatment options – A comprehensive review
Buruli ulcer (BU), a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is an infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. The disease has been documented in many South American, Asian, and Western Pacific countries and is widespread throughout much of Africa, especially in West an...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023092265 |
| _version_ | 1797429769463136256 |
|---|---|
| author | Jonathan Osei-Owusu Owusu Fordjour Aidoo Fatima Eshun David Sewordor Gaikpa Aboagye Kwarteng Dofuor Bright Yaw Vigbedor Bernard Kofi Turkson Kingsley Ochar John Opata Maxwell Jnr. Opoku Kodwo Dadzie Ninsin Christian Borgemeister |
| author_facet | Jonathan Osei-Owusu Owusu Fordjour Aidoo Fatima Eshun David Sewordor Gaikpa Aboagye Kwarteng Dofuor Bright Yaw Vigbedor Bernard Kofi Turkson Kingsley Ochar John Opata Maxwell Jnr. Opoku Kodwo Dadzie Ninsin Christian Borgemeister |
| author_sort | Jonathan Osei-Owusu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Buruli ulcer (BU), a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is an infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. The disease has been documented in many South American, Asian, and Western Pacific countries and is widespread throughout much of Africa, especially in West and Central Africa. In rural areas with scarce medical care, BU is a devastating disease that can leave patients permanently disabled and socially stigmatized. Mycobacterium ulcerans is thought to produce a mycolactone toxin, which results in necrosis of the afflicted tissue and may be involved in the etiology of BU. Initially, patients may notice a painless nodule or plaque on their skin; as the disease progresses, however, it may spread to other parts of the body, including the muscles and bones. Clinical signs, microbial culture, and histological analysis of afflicted tissue all contribute to a diagnosis of BU. Though antibiotic treatment and surgical removal of infected tissue are necessary for BU management, plant-derived medicine could be an alternative in areas with limited access to conventional medicine. Herein we reviewed the geographical distribution, socioeconomic, risk factors, diagnosis, biology and ecology of the pathogen. Complex environmental, socioeconomic, and genetic factors that influence BU are discussed. Further, our review highlights future research areas needed to develop strategies to manage the disease through the use of indigenous African plants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:17:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ba7b4f2ed7545f3a4c4af2a39f961f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:17:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ba7b4f2ed7545f3a4c4af2a39f961f02023-12-02T07:04:56ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-11-01911e22018Buruli ulcer in Africa: Geographical distribution, ecology, risk factors, diagnosis, and indigenous plant treatment options – A comprehensive reviewJonathan Osei-Owusu0Owusu Fordjour Aidoo1Fatima Eshun2David Sewordor Gaikpa3Aboagye Kwarteng Dofuor4Bright Yaw Vigbedor5Bernard Kofi Turkson6Kingsley Ochar7John Opata8Maxwell Jnr. Opoku9Kodwo Dadzie Ninsin10Christian Borgemeister11Department of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, Ghana; Corresponding author.Department of Biological Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, GhanaDepartment of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, GhanaDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, GhanaDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, GhanaDepartment of Basic Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, GhanaDepartment of Herbal Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaCouncil for Scientific and Industrial Research, Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute, Bunso, GhanaDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, GhanaDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, GhanaDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, GhanaCentre for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Genscherallee 3, 53113 Bonn, GermanyBuruli ulcer (BU), a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is an infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. The disease has been documented in many South American, Asian, and Western Pacific countries and is widespread throughout much of Africa, especially in West and Central Africa. In rural areas with scarce medical care, BU is a devastating disease that can leave patients permanently disabled and socially stigmatized. Mycobacterium ulcerans is thought to produce a mycolactone toxin, which results in necrosis of the afflicted tissue and may be involved in the etiology of BU. Initially, patients may notice a painless nodule or plaque on their skin; as the disease progresses, however, it may spread to other parts of the body, including the muscles and bones. Clinical signs, microbial culture, and histological analysis of afflicted tissue all contribute to a diagnosis of BU. Though antibiotic treatment and surgical removal of infected tissue are necessary for BU management, plant-derived medicine could be an alternative in areas with limited access to conventional medicine. Herein we reviewed the geographical distribution, socioeconomic, risk factors, diagnosis, biology and ecology of the pathogen. Complex environmental, socioeconomic, and genetic factors that influence BU are discussed. Further, our review highlights future research areas needed to develop strategies to manage the disease through the use of indigenous African plants.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023092265Neglected tropical diseasesNTDsHerbal medicineSkin and subcutaneous tissue infectionsPutative vectorsTreatment and management options |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan Osei-Owusu Owusu Fordjour Aidoo Fatima Eshun David Sewordor Gaikpa Aboagye Kwarteng Dofuor Bright Yaw Vigbedor Bernard Kofi Turkson Kingsley Ochar John Opata Maxwell Jnr. Opoku Kodwo Dadzie Ninsin Christian Borgemeister Buruli ulcer in Africa: Geographical distribution, ecology, risk factors, diagnosis, and indigenous plant treatment options – A comprehensive review Heliyon Neglected tropical diseases NTDs Herbal medicine Skin and subcutaneous tissue infections Putative vectors Treatment and management options |
| title | Buruli ulcer in Africa: Geographical distribution, ecology, risk factors, diagnosis, and indigenous plant treatment options – A comprehensive review |
| title_full | Buruli ulcer in Africa: Geographical distribution, ecology, risk factors, diagnosis, and indigenous plant treatment options – A comprehensive review |
| title_fullStr | Buruli ulcer in Africa: Geographical distribution, ecology, risk factors, diagnosis, and indigenous plant treatment options – A comprehensive review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Buruli ulcer in Africa: Geographical distribution, ecology, risk factors, diagnosis, and indigenous plant treatment options – A comprehensive review |
| title_short | Buruli ulcer in Africa: Geographical distribution, ecology, risk factors, diagnosis, and indigenous plant treatment options – A comprehensive review |
| title_sort | buruli ulcer in africa geographical distribution ecology risk factors diagnosis and indigenous plant treatment options a comprehensive review |
| topic | Neglected tropical diseases NTDs Herbal medicine Skin and subcutaneous tissue infections Putative vectors Treatment and management options |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023092265 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jonathanoseiowusu buruliulcerinafricageographicaldistributionecologyriskfactorsdiagnosisandindigenousplanttreatmentoptionsacomprehensivereview AT owusufordjouraidoo buruliulcerinafricageographicaldistributionecologyriskfactorsdiagnosisandindigenousplanttreatmentoptionsacomprehensivereview AT fatimaeshun buruliulcerinafricageographicaldistributionecologyriskfactorsdiagnosisandindigenousplanttreatmentoptionsacomprehensivereview AT davidsewordorgaikpa buruliulcerinafricageographicaldistributionecologyriskfactorsdiagnosisandindigenousplanttreatmentoptionsacomprehensivereview AT aboagyekwartengdofuor buruliulcerinafricageographicaldistributionecologyriskfactorsdiagnosisandindigenousplanttreatmentoptionsacomprehensivereview AT brightyawvigbedor buruliulcerinafricageographicaldistributionecologyriskfactorsdiagnosisandindigenousplanttreatmentoptionsacomprehensivereview AT bernardkofiturkson buruliulcerinafricageographicaldistributionecologyriskfactorsdiagnosisandindigenousplanttreatmentoptionsacomprehensivereview AT kingsleyochar buruliulcerinafricageographicaldistributionecologyriskfactorsdiagnosisandindigenousplanttreatmentoptionsacomprehensivereview AT johnopata buruliulcerinafricageographicaldistributionecologyriskfactorsdiagnosisandindigenousplanttreatmentoptionsacomprehensivereview AT maxwelljnropoku buruliulcerinafricageographicaldistributionecologyriskfactorsdiagnosisandindigenousplanttreatmentoptionsacomprehensivereview AT kodwodadzieninsin buruliulcerinafricageographicaldistributionecologyriskfactorsdiagnosisandindigenousplanttreatmentoptionsacomprehensivereview AT christianborgemeister buruliulcerinafricageographicaldistributionecologyriskfactorsdiagnosisandindigenousplanttreatmentoptionsacomprehensivereview |