Mycobacterium ulcerans in Possum Feces before Emergence in Humans, Australia

• DOI: 10.3201/eid3103.240657
• Publication Date: 2025-02-21T22:53:16Z
• Authors: Bridgette J. McNa...; Jack Cornish; Kim R. Blasdell; Eugene Athan; Naomi E. Clarke; Tiffany Pe; Mohammad Akhtar H...; Michael Muleme; Ee Laine Tay; Michael Dunn; Victoria Boyd; Anjana Karawita; Daniel P. O’Brien
• Keywords: Mycobacterium ulcerans; R; Medicine; epidemiology; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Keywords: Buruli ulcer; bacteria; tuberculosis and other mycobacteria; zoonoses

We describe emergence of Buruli ulcer in urban Geelong, Victoria, Australia, and examine timing and proximity of human cases to detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans DNA in possum feces. M. ulcerans–positive feces preceded human cases by up to 39 months, constituting an early warning of impending risk for Buruli ulcer.