Volume 14, Number 11—November 2008
Dispatch
New Foci of Buruli Ulcer, Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo
Kapay Kibadi, Mbutu Panda, Jean-Jacques Muyembe Tamfum, Alexandra G. Fraga, Adhemar Longatto Filho, Gladys Anyo, Jorge Pedrosa, Yoshinori Nakazawa, Patrick Suykerbuyk, Wayne M. Meyers, and Françoise Portaels
Table
Characteristics of 3 Buruli ulcer patients infected along the Kwango/Cuango River, DRC and Angola*
| Characteristic | Patient 1 | Patient 2 | Patient 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, y, sex | 30, M | 28, M | 13, F |
| Origin | Kinshasa, DRC | Kinshasa, DRC | Kinshasa, DRC |
| Location where infected |
Kafufu/Luremo, Angola |
Kafufu/Luremo, Angola |
Kasongo-Lunda, DRC |
| Patient delay,† y | 2 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Date of first symptoms | 2002 Oct | 2003 Jan | 2003 Jan |
| Date care was sought |
2004 Sep |
2005 Jun |
2005 Jul |
| Lesion | |||
| Type | Ulcer | Ulcer | Ulcer |
| Size, cm2 | 320 | 150 | 896 |
| Site |
Right thigh |
Right arm |
Left leg |
| Test results | |||
| Ziehl-Neelsen staining | + | + | + |
| Culture | – | – | – |
| IS2404 PCR | + | + | + |
| Histopathologic changes |
ND |
ND |
Extensive areas of necrosis with clumps of AFB |
| Duration of hospitalization, mo | 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Follow-up period with no relapse, mo | 42 | 30 | 28 |
| Outcome | Cured | Cured | Cured |
*DRC, Democratic Republic of Congo; +, positive; –, negative; IS, insertion sequence; ND, not done; AFB, acid-fast bacilli.
†Time between appearance of first signs or symptoms and care being sought at a medical center.
