| Abstract | Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), a pathogenic bacterium that causes dermal ulcers known as ”buruli ulcers” (BU), is fast becoming a debilitating affliction in many countries worldwide. The incidence of BU is not limited solely to tropical environments. In fact, occurrence of BU has been documented in subtropical and temperate regions. A modified SIR model is used to explain the transmission of Mycobacterium Ulcerans (MU) and it’s dependence on arsenic environments. Some studies have suggested that arsenic plays a major role in the spread and prevalence of Buruli Ulcer (BU). In addition, it has been hypothesized that a vector in the form of a water-bug plays a key role in the epidemiology of BU. We develop an epidemiological model based on these assumptions for the dynamics and prevalence of BU and show that arsenic positively induces the growth and spread of MU. |
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