Evaluation of the fluorescent-thin layer chromatography (f-TLC) for the diagnosis of Buruli ulcer disease in Ghana
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLOS ONE
Abstract
Buruli ulcer is a tissue necrosis infection caused by an environmental mycobacterium called
Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU). The disease is most prevalent in rural areas with the highest
rates in West and Central African countries. The bacterium produces a toxin called mycolactone which can lead to the destruction of the skin, resulting in incapacitating deformities with
an enormous economic and social burden on patients and their caregivers. Even though
there is an effective antibiotic treatment for BU, the control and management rely on early
case detection and rapid diagnosis to avert morbidities. The diagnosis of Mycobacterium
ulcerans relies on smear microscopy, culture histopathology, and PCR. Unfortunately, all
the current laboratory diagnostics have various limitations and are not available in endemic
communities. Consequently, there is a need for a rapid diagnostic tool for use at the community health centre level to enable diagnosis and confirmation of suspected cases for early
treatment. The present study corroborated the diagnostic performance and utility of fluorescent-thin layer chromatography (f-TLC) for the diagnosis of Buruli ulcer.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Buruli ulcer disease i, fluorescent-thin layer chromatography (f-TLC), Ghana
Citation
Citation: Amewu RK, Akolgo GA, Asare ME, Abdulai Z, Ablordey AS, Asiedu K (2022) Evaluation of the fluorescent-thin layer chromatography (fTLC) for the diagnosis of Buruli ulcer disease in Ghana. PLoS ONE 17(8): e0270235. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270235