# name
Haemophilus ducreyi DNA is detectable on the skin of
                asymptomatic children, flies and fomites in villages of Papua
                New Guinea

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
BACKGROUND: Haemophilus ducreyi and Treponema pallidum subsp.
                pertenue are major causes of leg ulcers in children in Africa
                and the Pacific Region. We investigated the presence of DNA (PCR
                positivity) from these bacteria on asymptomatic people, flies,
                and household linens in an endemic setting.
                METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We performed a cross-sectional
                study in rural villages of Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea during
                a yaws elimination campaign. Participants were asymptomatic
                subjects recruited from households with cases of leg ulcers, and
                from households without cases of leg ulcers. We rubbed swabs on
                the intact skin of the leg of asymptomatic individuals, and
                collected flies and swabs of environmental surfaces. All
                specimens were tested by PCR for H. ducreyi and T. p. pertenue
                DNA. Of 78 asymptomatic participants that had an adequate
                specimen for DNA detection, H. ducreyi-PCR positivity was
                identified in 16 (21%) and T. p. pertenue-PCR positivity in 1
                (1%). In subgroup analyses, H. ducreyi-PCR positivity did not
                differ in participants exposed or not exposed to a case of H.
                ducreyi ulcer in the household (24% vs 18%; p = 0.76). Of 17
                cultures obtained from asymptomatic participants, 2 (12%)
                yielded a definitive diagnosis of H. ducreyi, proving skin
                colonization. Of 10 flies tested, 9 (90%) had H. ducreyi DNA and
                5 (50%) had T. p. pertenue DNA. Of 6 bed sheets sampled, 2 (33%)
                had H. ducreyi DNA and 1 (17%) had T. p. pertenue DNA.
                CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first time that H. ducreyi
                DNA and colonization has been demonstrated on the skin of
                asymptomatic children and that H. ducreyi DNA and T. p. pertenue
                DNA has been identified in flies and on fomites. The ubiquity of
                H. ducreyi in the environment is a contributing factor to the
                spread of the organism.

# metadata.dc.relation.isformatof[].value
Reproducció del document publicat a:
                http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004958

# metadata.dc.relation.ispartof[].value
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2017, vol. 11, num. 5, p.
                e0004958

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Articles publicats en revistes (ISGlobal)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Haemophilus ducreyi DNA is detectable on the skin of
                asymptomatic children, flies and fomites in villages of Papua
                New Guinea