Prevalence and risk factors associated with < i > Haemophilus ducreyi < /i > cutaneous ulcers in Cameroon

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence ofHD as cause of cutaneous ulcers, investigate its presence in asymptomatic individuals and identify associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in yaws endemic districts of Cameroon. Participants included people presenting yaws-like ulcers and asymptomatic individuals. Swab samples were collected from each participant and tested forHD andTreponema pallidum (TP) using an established qPCR method. Additionally, demographic, habitat, proximity, and hygiene characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire. A total of 443 individuals participated in the study, including 271 ulcer cases and 172 asymptomatic contacts. The prevalence ofHD in ulcers was 30.3% (Confidence Interval (CI) 95% [24.8 –35.7]) and the prevalence of asymptomaticHD carriage was 8.6% (CI95% [4.5 –12.9]).TP was also detected in our sample among ulcer cases but in lower proportion (5.2% CI95% [2.5 –7.8]) compared toHD. The adjusted logistic regression model showed that women were as much at risk of havingHD cutaneous ulcer as men regardless of age. Physical proximity to a confirmed ulcer case was the major factor identified favouringHD transmission.HD ulcers were more likely to be present on Bantu individuals compared to Baka as well asHD colonization. These findings highlightHD as the most common cause of cutaneous ulcers in yaws-endemic communities in Cameroon. The exact implications of detectingHD on intact skin ...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research