OR31

1:1. MIVEGEC (UMR Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD), Montpellier, France.; 2:2. Grupo de Biogeografía, Diversidad y Conservación, Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, España; 3:3. Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, MS, USA.; 4:4. Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, MS, USA.; 5:5. Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.; 6:6. Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA.; 7:7. Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University; 8:8. Department of Osteopathic 22 Medical Specialties, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.; 9:9. Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.; 10:10. AgBioResearch, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), such as Buruli ulcer, pose a significant challenge to global health, particularly in regions with limited access to diagnosis and treatment. This disease, caused by the environmental mycobacterium, Mycobacterium ulcerans, exhibits transmission patterns and geographic distribution strongly linked to environmental, ecological factors.

In this study, we explore how environmental variables such as soil type, mineral and climatic composition, and the richness of animal and plant species, both native and introduced, may influence the distribution of this bacillus. Using pathogeography tools and predictive models, we analyzed environmental, ecological, demographic and socio-economic parameters to identify spatial patterns and associated Buruli ulcer risk factors. Our results indicate that the presence of M. ulcerans may be positively influenced by climatic and edaphic factors which limit its spatial range, invasive grass plant species and the presence of gold ores in the ground. Cases of Buruli ulcer and their spatial distribution in Africa are positively influenced by the interaction of UV-B radiation and climatic factors, soil moisture and altitudinal interactions and by a couple of animal and plant species.

These findings underscore the need for an interdisciplinary approach to understand the mechanisms regulating this pathogen distribution and the skin disease it causes. Understanding the environmental dynamics of mycobacteria in animals and humans is crucial for effective control strategies. Collaboration among ecologists, epidemiologists, and public health experts is key to mitigating the impact of these NTDs in the face of global changes.