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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2004, p. 6296-6298, Vol. 70, No. 10
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.10.6296-6298.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

SHORT REPORT

Aquatic Snails, Passive Hosts of Mycobacterium ulcerans

Laurent Marsollier,1* Tchibozo Sévérin,2 Jacques Aubry,3 Richard W. Merritt,4 Jean-Paul Saint André,5 Pierre Legras,6 Anne-Lise Manceau,7 Annick Chauty,8 Bernard Carbonnelle,7 and Stewart T. Cole1

Unité de Génétique bactérienne, Institut Pasteur, Paris,1 INSERM U. 601, Institut de Biologie & Faculté de Pharmacie, Nantes,3 Laboratoire d'Anatomie Pathologique,5 Laboratoire de Bactériologie-Virologie-Hygiène, CHU,7 Animalerie Hospitalo-Universitaire, Faculté de Médecine, Angers, France,6 Laboratoire d'Ecologie appliquée, Fsa/Uac, Cotonou,2 Centre de dépistage et de traitement de l'ulcère de Buruli, Pobè, Bénin,8 Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan4

Received 26 April 2004/ Accepted 19 June 2004

ABSTRACT

Accumulative indirect evidence of the epidemiology of Mycobacterium ulcerans infections causing chronic skin ulcers (i.e., Buruli ulcer disease) suggests that the development of this pathogen and its transmission to humans are related predominantly to aquatic environments. We report that snails could transitorily harbor M. ulcerans without offering favorable conditions for its growth and replication. A novel intermediate link in the transmission chain of M. ulcerans becomes likely with predator aquatic insects in addition to phytophage insects. Water bugs, such as Naucoris cimicoides, a potential vector of M. ulcerans, were shown to be infected specifically by this bacterium after feeding on snails experimentally exposed to M. ulcerans.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Unité de Génétique bactérienne, Institut Pasteur, 75724 Paris, France. Phone: 33 01 45 68 83 11. Fax: 33 01 40 61 35 83. E-mail: marsol{at}pasteur.fr.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2004, p. 6296-6298, Vol. 70, No. 10
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.10.6296-6298.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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