Map showing the distribution of collection sites for possum faeces, indicating the locations of positive samples for <i>Mycobacterium ulcerans</i> DNA by real-time IS<i>2404</i> PCR.

<p>The locations of positive ringtail faecal samples are shown as red ovals; positive brushtail samples are shown as black ovals: negative samples are shown in white. The dotted circle shows a significant non-random clustering of <i>Mycobacterium ulcerans</i> positive possum faecal samples identified by spatial scan statistics (<i>P</i><0.0001; 16/30 possum faecal sample positives within a circle of radius 0.42 km). 4/6 residential addresses of human BU cases and 2/3 non-resident addresses fall within the radius of the cluster identified above. Addresses of holiday houses were unavailable for 3 non-resident BU cases. The inset figure (bottom left) depicts a heat map showing possum faecal bacterial loads of samples within the black rectangle, estimated from IS<i>2404</i> real-time PCR signal strength, ranging from negative (dark blue) to ≥10⁶<i>M. ulcerans</i> per gram of faeces (red).</p

Map showing the Mornington and Bellarine peninsulas, and locations of towns referred to in the text.

<p>Map showing the Mornington and Bellarine peninsulas, and locations of towns referred to in the text.</p