Mycetoma: An Infectious Neglected Tropical Devastating Disease

Mahendra Pal^1* & Pratibha Dave²

¹Narayan Consultancy on Veterinary Public Health and Microbiology, Aangan, Jagnath Ganesh Dairy Road, Gujarat, India
²Welfare Hospital and Research Centre, Bharauch, Gujarat, India

Dr. Mahendra Pal, Narayan Consultancy on Veterinary Public Health and Microbiology, Aangan, Jagnath Ganesh Dairy Road, Gujarat, India.

Keywords: Bacteria; Fungi; Mycetoma; Public Health Neglected Disease; Skin Injury; Soil Related Jobs

Abstract

Mycetoma is a neglected, chronic, progressive, granulomatous disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, which sometimes involves the muscle, bone, and neighboring tissues. Mycetoma continues to pose a huge public health threat in many tropical and sub-tropical countries of the world. It is caused by bacteria (actinomycetoma) as well as fungi (eumycetoma), which occur in the saprobic environment. The soil serves as the reservoir of infection and transmission occurs through skin inoculation of the pathogen following trauma. The prevalence of etiological agents of mycetoma varies from region to region. In Brazil and Mexico, Nocardia brasiliensis is the main etiologic agent of actinomycetoma. Madurella mycetomatis is most common cause of eumycetoma in Africa. The bacteria accounts for about 60% and fungi for 40% of mycetoma in the world. Disease is more prevalent in developing countries as compared to the developed nations. Mycetoma is observed more frequently in men than women. The maximum cases are recorded in young adults in the age group of 20 to 40 years. The incidence of mycetoma is higher in rural areas than in urban settings. In endemic areas, the incidence of mycetoma is more among the persons who walk barefoot. It is considered as an occupational disease of farmers, builders, gardeners, field employees, carpenters, herdsmen, and land workers who are at greater risk of traumatic injury providing an opportunity for the entry of the causative agents.

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