Nature
The bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans is responsible for a skin infection known as Buruli ulcer. It can take a long time after infection before the symptoms show. Over many months, what may first look like a small, painless mosquito bite develops into a disfiguring ulcer that, if left untreated, can continue increasing in size.
Incidence
Buruli ulcer has been reported in more than 30 countries including in Africa, South America and the Western Pacific.
In Australia, possums can act as “reservoirs” of the pathogen, from which it can spread to people. Possums themselves can also suffer symptoms of infection, with ulcers similar to those in humans. Buruli ulcer cases have been reported in areas were both mosquitoes and possums carry Mycobacterium ulcerans. The Australian backyard mosquito, Aedes notoscriptus, is a major vector suspect.