PREVALENCE, CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS AND CO-INFECTIONS OF BURULI ULCER IN PARTS OF IMO STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated prevalence, clinical manifestations and co-infections of buruli ulcer in parts of Imo State, Nigeria. The sampled human population was physically examined for buruli ulcer infection, in ulcerative stages wound swab samples were collected using sterile swab sticks and taken to the laboratory for microbial analysis. Microbial analysis of samples, gram staining, and identification of bacterial isolates, biochemical tests and determination of co-infections were achieved using standard methods. The analysis of results revealed moderately high prevalence rate of buruli ulcer disease in the area. The results further showed that in Oguta 58.54% of sampled individuals had clinical manifestations of the infection. Ohaji/Egbema recorded 51.46%, Oru East had 57.50% of victims with clinical manifestations, Onuimo had 61.29%, Isiala Mbano recorded 60.00%, Ikeduru 54.14% and Oru-West had 53.42 % of individuals with clinical manifestations of buruli ulcer. Prevalence of the buruli ulcer differed among the Local Government Areas studied. Study revealed variations in prevalence and clinical manifestations between males and females in the communities surveyed, with more females having ulcerative cases, too. Bacterial isolates confirmed from buruli ulcer disease were Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp., Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus spp. Candida albicans, a fungal species was also isolated. Different microbial species responsible for pus formation in buruli ulcer wounds were highlighted. The results revealed that the toxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus caused dermatitis and toxic shock syndrome to the victims.