Title |
Natural environmental water sources in endemic regions of northeastern Brazil are potential reservoirs of viable Mycobacterium leprae
|
---|---|
Published in |
Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, December 2017
|
DOI | 10.1590/0074-02760170117 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Maria Luisa Bezerra de Macedo Arraes, Maísa Viana de Holanda, Luana Nepomuceno Gondim Costa Lima, José Antônio Beltrão Sabadia, Cynthia Romariz Duarte, Rosa Livia Freitas Almeida, Carl Kendall, Ligia Regina Sansigolo Kerr, Cristiane Cunha Frota |
Abstract |
The detection of live Mycobacterium leprae in soil and animals other than humans suggests that the environment plays a role in the transmission of leprosy. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of viable M. leprae in natural water sources used by the local population in five municipalities in the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil. Samples were collected from 30 different sources. Viable bacilli were identified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the M. leprae gyrA gene and sequencing of the PCR products. Physicochemical properties of each water source were also assessed. M. leprae gyrA mRNA was found in 23 (76.7%) of the water sources. No association was found between depth of the water and sample positivity, nor was there any association between the type of water used by the population and sample positivity. An association between viable M. leprae and temperature and pH was found. Georeferencing showed a relation between the residences of leprosy cases and water source containing the bacterium. The finding of viable M. leprae in natural water sources associated with human contact suggests that the environment plays an important role in maintaining endemic leprosy in the study region. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Netherlands | 1 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 1 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 69 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 15 | 22% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 7 | 10% |
Student > Master | 6 | 9% |
Researcher | 5 | 7% |
Other | 4 | 6% |
Other | 12 | 17% |
Unknown | 20 | 29% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 13 | 19% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 8 | 12% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 6 | 9% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 4 | 6% |
Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 3 | 4% |
Other | 14 | 20% |
Unknown | 21 | 30% |