| dc.description.abstract | Background: Designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a neglected tropical disease (NTD), mycetoma is a chronic subcutaneous fungal and bacterial disease which causes profound morbidity. Mycetoma is mostly not a notifiable disease and thus, there is limited information on the global burden of the causative fungi and bacteria species. Because mycetoma is caused by either fungal or bacterial pathogens, its diagnosis is still a challenge particularly in developing countries such as Uganda where most methods are phenotypic. Therefore, this study was aimed to characterize the genotypes of fungal organisms associated with mycetoma. Specific objectives: We aimed to determine: (i) The phenotypic identification of fungal and bacterial organisms associated with mycetoma in Uganda, (ii) The molecular identification of fungal species associated with mycetoma in Uganda, and (iii) The description of characteristics exhibited by mycetoma patients in Uganda Methods: This was a cross sectional study which was conducted using 14 archived biopsy samples which were originally diagnosed using histological Haematoxylin and Eosin, and positive mycetoma cultures. We used PCR, and aimed at fungal DNA targets such as: ITS1 and ITS2 fungal interspacer regions, M. mycetomatis1, M. mycetomatis 2, S. boydii, and M. pseudomycetomatis to determine the precise fungal species and strains. Microbiology assays, including, Twort Gram, Lacto Phenol Cotton Blue, 10% KOH-Calcoflour white with addition of a special stain for fungi ( PAS) were performed, data on host risk factors and demographic information was collected using the study tool and the clinical notes from the medical records were captured and data was analyzed. Results & their impact: Using phenotypic stains, we demonstrated that of the n=14 biopsy samples, n=12 (85.7%) had fungal organisms and 2 (14.3%) were positive for bacterial organisms. PCR results were positive, using the ITA 1 target for biopsy numbers (UCIBS 731,MB 241 and B6546423). In the description of the characteritics exhibited by mycetoma positive patients in Uganda ,we included the age-were by mycetoma was detected in biopsies of participants of 18years and above compared to below 18 years at a frequency of n=11(78.6%) and n=3(21.4%), for sex-the results of mycetoma in these participants was more in males than in females at a ratio of n=9(64.3%) and n= 5(35.71%),for the tribe results showed that mycetoma was in Baganda at a frequency of n=4(28.6) for these participants,and the body part most affected by mycetoma was the leg at n=5(35.7%) frequency. | en_US |
