title: The mycetoma knowledge gap: identification of research priorities.
abstract: Mycetoma is a tropical disease which is caused by a taxonomically diverse range of actinomycetes (actinomycetoma) and fungi (eumycetoma). The disease was only recently listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a neglected tropical disease (NTD). This recognition is the direct result of a meeting held in Geneva on February 1, 2013, in which experts on the disease from around the world met to identify the key research priorities needed to combat mycetoma. The areas that need to be addressed are highlighted here. The initial priority is to establish the incidence and prevalence of the disease in regions where mycetoma is endemic, prior to determining the primary reservoirs of the predominant causal agents and their mode of transmission to susceptible individuals in order to establish novel interventions that will reduce the impact of the disease on individuals, families, and communities. Critically, economical, reliable, and effective methods are required to achieve early diagnosis of infections and consequential improved therapeutic outcomes. Molecular techniques and serological assays were considered the most promising in the development of novel diagnostic tools to be used in endemic settings. Improved strategies for treating eumycetoma and actinomycetoma are also considered.
authors.affiliation: ErasmusMC, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wendy W J
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: van de Sande
authors.affiliation: Mycetoma Research Centre, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: El Sheikh
authors.initials: el S
authors.lastname: Maghoub
authors.affiliation: Mycetoma Research Centre, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Ahmed H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Fahal
authors.affiliation: School of Biology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goodfellow
authors.affiliation: Dr. Jose E. Gonzalez University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Department of Dermatology, Ave Madero y Ave Gonzalitos, Colonia Mitras Centro, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
authors.forename: Oliverio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.affiliation: Rotterdam Centre for Tropical Medicine, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zijlstra
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008271:Mycetoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012106:Research; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014330:Tropical Medicine / Q000639:trends*