03176nas a2200433   4500000000100000008004100001260004600042653001100088653000900099653002600108653002300134653002700157653001200184653001900196653003600215653001300251653001300264100001500277700001700292700001900309700002000328700001400348700001400362700001200376700001500388700001300403700001300416700001300429700001800442700001700460700001200477700001400489245015500503856009900658300001100757490000700768520195300775022001402728       2026                            d  c07/2026bPublic Library of Science (PLoS)10aUlcers10aYaws10aStaphylococcus aureus10aTreponema pallidum10aHaemophilus Infections10aLesions10aDNA extraction10aPolymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)10aChildren10aCameroon1 aB’sop FG1 aMbouombouo M1 aTchatchouang S1 aKamdem Thiomo D1 aKenfack D1 aTappe APK1 aBile FP1 aEvouna HCZ1 aKengne M1 aNumfor L1 aNtoumi F1 aAssam-Assam J1 aNjih-Tabah E1 aBeng VP1 aVinetz JM00aInvestigation of bacterial agents in yaws-like ulcers in children and their environment in Cameroon: An experience from the Akonolinga Health District  uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014579&type=printable  a1 - 100 v203 a<p><strong>Background</strong></p>

<p>Skin ulcers are health problem in children in tropical areas. Some clinically resemble yaws and this may cause inappropriate allocation of resources from the WHO yaws eradication plan. Studies have shown that bacteria other than the Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue (bacterium causing yaws) were responsible for these lesions with certain associated risk factors. This study aimed to detect bacteria in yaws-like skin ulcers in Akonolinga Health District and the involvement of some matrices (pets, water, flies).</p>

<p><strong>Methods</strong></p>

<p>A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2023. Swabs were collected from children aged 5–15 years with yaws-like lesions and their asymptomatic contacts. Alongside this, samples were also collected from domestic animals, rivers and flies in the vicinity of participants with yaws like lesions. DNA extracted from the samples collected was used to amplify specific genes to detect the bacteria: Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue , Haemophilus ducreyi , Staphylococcus aureus and Arcanobacterium haemolyticum .</p>

<p><strong>Results</strong></p>

<p>Among the 5,931 children screened, 28 presented with yaws-like lesions. Swab samples were collected from these 28 symptomatic individuals as well as from 28 asymptomatic contacts. Among the targeted genes tested, only Staphylococcus aureus DNA could be amplified from the samples of symptomatic at 32.1% (9/28) and in asymptomatic at 21.42% (6/28) (p = 0.547). These bacterial DNA could not be amplified from samples from animal and environmental matrices.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>

<p>Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium involved in yaws-like ulcers but also found in similar proportion among asymptomatic healthy controls. Further investigation in these skin ulcers is needed for wider diagnostic tools to manage affected population.</p>
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