Survival of Mycobacterium ulcerans at 37°C

Abstract

Bone infection and metastatic spread in cases of Buruli ulcer imply that Mycobacterium ulcerans is able to survive and multiply at 37°C. This study investigated the survival at 37°C of M. ulcerans isolates from diverse geographical and clinical sources. Although the viability of all isolates decreased after a few days at 37°C, viable bacilli remained after 13 days at 37°C in most instances. African isolates of M. ulcerans were more thermotolerant than isolates from temperate regions. Isolates from skin and bone lesions of the same patients showed no difference in thermotolerance. © 2007 The Authors Journal Compilation 2007 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.