title: Multilocus VNTR analysis of Mycobacterium ulcerans strains isolated in Côte d'Ivoire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Buruli ulcer, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is endemic in more than 30 countries worldwide, with Côte d'Ivoire being among the most affected countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Département de Bactériologie-virologie, Institut Pasteur de Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte D'ivoire. david79tr@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Grossmann Marie-David
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Coulibaly-N'Golo
authors.forename: Euloge
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ekaza
authors.forename: Bakary
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coulibaly
authors.forename: N'guetta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aka
authors.forename: Raymond Kouassi
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: N'guessan
authors.forename: Jean Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thiberge
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Caro
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brisse
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bretin-Dosso
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D054312:Buruli Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology*; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D058889:Molecular Typing; D019911:Mycobacterium ulcerans / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic