First glanders cases detected in Nepal underscore the need for surveillance and border controls.
Abstract: Glanders is a transmissible zoonotic disease caused by Burkholderia mallei that infects equids and humans. No glanders cases in equids were reported so far in Nepal. Methods: Following suspected glanders in animals with clinical signs in different regions in Nepal, serum samples were tested by CFT, ELISA and Luminex® tests. Two horses and a mule tested positive for glanders by all tests, while two other equids only tested positive by ELISA and Luminex®. Analysis of swabs and pus samples by a PCR system targeting B. mallei confirmed the presence of the bacterium in the samples collected from the 3 equids that yielded positive results in all serological tests. Genotyping of the three PCR positive samples with a SNP-based method identified a genotype closely related to the B. mallei strains circulating in India. Conclusions: Confirmation of glanders cases underscores the need of implementing a surveillance program in Nepal and a strict control of the animal movement across the borders.
© 2022. The Author(s).
Publication Date: 2022-04-06 PubMed ID: 35387664PubMed Central: PMC8985341DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03233-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article reveals the first instances of glanders disease reported in Nepal, amongst equids (horses and mules), highlighting the necessity for improved disease surveillance and border controls.
Introduction and Research Methodology
- The article discusses glanders, a contagious and fatal disease mainly found in horses, caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei. This disease can also spread to humans, posing a potential public health risk.
- To date, there have been no reported glanders cases in equids within Nepal. However, this research was triggered by suspected cases in various regions across the country.
- Serum samples from suspected animals displaying symptoms of glanders were tested via three different methods: CFT (complement fixation test), ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and Luminex® tests. Post-test analysis involved the review of swabs and pus samples using a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) system specifically targeting B. mallei to confirm the disease’s presence.
Research Findings
- The analysis revealed two horses and a mule testing positive for glanders across all three tests, while two other equids tested positive only by ELISA and Luminex®.
- The PCR systems, scanning for B. mallei, confirmed the presence of the bacterium in samples collected from the three equids that tested positive across all serological assessments.
- To further understand the strain of glanders present, genotyping was applied to the three PCR positive samples, which involved categorizing their genes. The analysis identified a genotype similar to B. mallei strains common in India.
Conclusion and Implications
- With the confirmation of glanders cases in Nepal, the study emphasizes the urgency of implementing a robust surveillance program in Nepal to monitor and mitigate the spread of this disease.
- Furthermore, the study suggests that stringent control measures should be applied to animal movements across borders to manage potential risk-transference, given the detected similarity to strains prevalent in neighbouring India.
Cite This Article
APA
P K, M M, S M, Kr P, T D, G W, Ma V, K L.
(2022).
First glanders cases detected in Nepal underscore the need for surveillance and border controls.
BMC Vet Res, 18(1), 132.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03233-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Central Veterinary Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal. paggya2000@gmail.com.
- Central Veterinary Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Central Veterinary Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Veterinary Laboratory, Surkhet, Nepal.
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, Bacterial Zoonosis Unit, European and OIE Reference Laboratory for Glanders, Paris-Est University, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, Bacterial Zoonosis Unit, European and OIE Reference Laboratory for Glanders, Paris-Est University, Maisons-Alfort, France. karine.laroucau@anses.fr.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Burkholderia mallei
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Equidae
- Glanders / diagnosis
- Glanders / epidemiology
- Glanders / microbiology
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Nepal / epidemiology
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors have no financial or personal relationships with any individuals or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias this paper.
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This article includes 15 references
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