Multilocus VNTR analysis of Mycobacterium ulcerans strains isolated in Côte d'Ivoire.

International audienceINTRODUCTION: Buruli ulcer, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is endemic in more than 30 countries worldwide, with Côte d'Ivoire being among the most affected countries. METHODOLOGY: We used seven variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) markers and analyzed 114 samples from 11 Ivorian localities consisting of 33 bacterial strains and 81 clinical samples. Complete data sets at loci 1, 6, 9 and 33 were obtained for 18 of these strains (n = 15) and samples (n = 3) collected in each of the localities. RESULTS: All the strains had allelic profile [3113], corresponding to the previously described Atlantic Africa genotype. CONCLUSION: Sequencing of PCR products at all loci showed no variation in sequence or repeat number, underlining the genetic monomorphism of M. ulcerans in Côte d'Ivoire