Survival of Mycobacterium ulcerans at 37°C

Bone infection and metastatic spread in cases of Buruli ulcer imply that Mycobacterium ulcerans is able to survive and multiply at 37 degrees C. This study investigated the survival at 37 degrees C of M. ulcerans isolates from diverse geographical and clinical sources. Although the viability of all isolates decreased after a few days at 37 degrees C, viable bacilli remained after 13 days at 37 degrees C in most instances. African isolates of M. ulcerans were more thermotolerant than isolates from temperate regions. Isolates from skin and bone lesions of the same patients showed no difference in thermotolerance.