The use of IS2404 restriction fragment length polymorphisms suggests the diversity of Mycobacterium ulcerans from different geographical areas

Buruli ulcer, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, has been reported in five c ontinents: Africa, Asia, Australia, and North and South America. In the pre sent study, restriction fragment length polymorphism with the recently desc ribed M. ulcerans specific insertion sequence IS2404 as a probe, was applie d to Mycobacterium shinshuense, Mycobacterium marinum. and 14 clinical M. u lcerans isolates originating from six geographic areas: Africa (n = 6), Aus tralia (n = 2), Mexico (n = 1), south Asia (n = 2), Asia (n = 1), and South America (n = 2). Using this probe, six subtypes of M. ulcerans, related to the six geographic origins of the isolates were distinguished, confirming that M. ulcerans can be divided into subgroups corresponding to different g eographic variants of the same species.