Emerging Infectious Diseases (Mar 2025)

Mycobacterium ulcerans in Possum Feces before Emergence in Humans, Australia

  • Bridgette J. McNamara,
  • Jack Cornish,
  • Kim R. Blasdell,
  • Eugene Athan,
  • Naomi E. Clarke,
  • Tiffany Pe,
  • Mohammad Akhtar Hussain,
  • Michael Muleme,
  • Ee Laine Tay,
  • Michael Dunn,
  • Victoria Boyd,
  • Anjana Karawita,
  • Daniel P. O’Brien

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3103.240657
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 31, no. 3
pp. 569 – 573

Abstract

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We describe emergence of Buruli ulcer in urban Geelong, Victoria, Australia, and examine timing and proximity of human cases to detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans DNA in possum feces. M. ulcerans–positive feces preceded human cases by up to 39 months, constituting an early warning of impending risk for Buruli ulcer.

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