Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis of Buruli Ulcer Disease: A Systematic Review

Background. Buruli ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing cutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent morbid effects and misuse of drugs. We review developments in laboratory diagnosis of BU, discuss limitations of available diagnostic methods, and give a perspec...

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Main Authors: Samuel A. Sakyi, Samuel Y. Aboagye, Isaac Darko Otchere, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5310718
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author Samuel A. Sakyi
Samuel Y. Aboagye
Isaac Darko Otchere
Dorothy Yeboah-Manu
author_facet Samuel A. Sakyi
Samuel Y. Aboagye
Isaac Darko Otchere
Dorothy Yeboah-Manu
author_sort Samuel A. Sakyi
collection DOAJ
description Background. Buruli ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing cutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent morbid effects and misuse of drugs. We review developments in laboratory diagnosis of BU, discuss limitations of available diagnostic methods, and give a perspective on the potential of using aptamers as point-of-care. Methods. Information for this review was searched through PubMed, web of knowledge, and identified data up to December 2015. References from relevant articles and reports from WHO Annual Meeting of the Global Buruli Ulcer initiative were also used. Finally, 59 articles were used. Results. The main laboratory methods for BU diagnosis are microscopy, culture, PCR, and histopathology. Microscopy and PCR are used routinely for diagnosis. PCR targeting IS2404 is the gold standard for laboratory confirmation. Culture remains the only method that detects viable bacilli, used for diagnosing relapse and accrued isolates for epidemiological investigation as well as monitoring drug resistance. Laboratory confirmation is done at centers distant from endemic communities reducing confirmation to a quality assurance. Conclusions. Current efforts aimed at developing point-of-care diagnostics are saddled with major drawbacks; we, however, postulate that selection of aptamers against MU target can be used as point of care.
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spelling doaj-art-a091aa29f5fe4b06a591dfe321d8b99c2025-02-03T01:21:27ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology1712-95321918-14932016-01-01201610.1155/2016/53107185310718Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis of Buruli Ulcer Disease: A Systematic ReviewSamuel A. Sakyi0Samuel Y. Aboagye1Isaac Darko Otchere2Dorothy Yeboah-Manu3Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaBackground. Buruli ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing cutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent morbid effects and misuse of drugs. We review developments in laboratory diagnosis of BU, discuss limitations of available diagnostic methods, and give a perspective on the potential of using aptamers as point-of-care. Methods. Information for this review was searched through PubMed, web of knowledge, and identified data up to December 2015. References from relevant articles and reports from WHO Annual Meeting of the Global Buruli Ulcer initiative were also used. Finally, 59 articles were used. Results. The main laboratory methods for BU diagnosis are microscopy, culture, PCR, and histopathology. Microscopy and PCR are used routinely for diagnosis. PCR targeting IS2404 is the gold standard for laboratory confirmation. Culture remains the only method that detects viable bacilli, used for diagnosing relapse and accrued isolates for epidemiological investigation as well as monitoring drug resistance. Laboratory confirmation is done at centers distant from endemic communities reducing confirmation to a quality assurance. Conclusions. Current efforts aimed at developing point-of-care diagnostics are saddled with major drawbacks; we, however, postulate that selection of aptamers against MU target can be used as point of care.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5310718
spellingShingle Samuel A. Sakyi
Samuel Y. Aboagye
Isaac Darko Otchere
Dorothy Yeboah-Manu
Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis of Buruli Ulcer Disease: A Systematic Review
Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology
title Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis of Buruli Ulcer Disease: A Systematic Review
title_full Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis of Buruli Ulcer Disease: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis of Buruli Ulcer Disease: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis of Buruli Ulcer Disease: A Systematic Review
title_short Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis of Buruli Ulcer Disease: A Systematic Review
title_sort clinical and laboratory diagnosis of buruli ulcer disease a systematic review
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5310718
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