Identification of persistent clusters and temporal trends of glanders in horses throughout Brazil.
Abstract: Glanders, caused by Burkholderia mallei, is a zoonotic disease with profound socioeconomic and public health implications, affecting equines and humans. This study investigated glanders cases in Brazil from 2006 to 2023 to identify persistent clusters and analyze temporal trends, providing a foundation for the formulation of effective control policies. Official data were obtained from the National Animal Health Information System (SIZ) and Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), encompassing case notifications and equine population statistics by state and year. The incidence risk (IR) was calculated, and prospective spatiotemporal analyses were performed using the discrete Poisson model in SatScan software. Temporal trends were assessed through segmented regression in Joinpoint software. A total of 2,654 glanders cases were reported, with the Northeast region accounting for 52.19% of cases and Pernambuco presenting the highest IR (342.58/100,000). Primary clusters were detected in the Northeast (RR = 5.16), while secondary clusters were identified in the North, South, Central-West, and Southeast regions, with the most notable cluster in Amazonas (RR = 60.32). Temporal trend analysis revealed overall stability in Brazil but demonstrated increasing trends in the North, South, and Central-West regions. These results underscore the critical need for integrated epidemiological surveillance, stricter health regulations, and improved control of equine movement, particularly in regions at higher risk. Strengthening early diagnostic capabilities and implementing targeted educational initiatives are essential to curbing the spread of B. mallei and mitigating the socioeconomic and public health impacts of glanders in Brazil.
© 2025. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.
Publication Date: 2025-07-27 PubMed ID: 40715785PubMed Central: 9679097DOI: 10.1007/s42770-025-01730-wGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article provides an analysis of glanders cases in horses throughout Brazil from 2006 to 2023 in order to pinpoint areas of concentrated infection and track the disease’s trend over time. The findings are expected to help in devising effective policies to control glanders, a disease that has significant economic and public health ramifications.
Research Methodology
- The study drew official data from the National Animal Health Information System (SIZ) and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) regarding case notifications and equine population statistics by year and state.
- The researchers calculated incidence risk (IR), conducted prospective spatiotemporal analyses using the discrete Poisson model via SatScan software, and assessed temporal trends using segmented regression in Joinpoint software.
Research Findings and Analysis
- The study documented a total of 2,654 glanders cases, 52.19% of which were in the Northeast region.
- Pernambuco was reported to have the highest IR at 342.58 in every 100,000 cases.
- Locations with primary clusters of glanders were found in the Northeast, experiencing a Relative Risk (RR) of 5.16.
- Secondary clusters were identified in such regions as the North, South, Central-West, and Southeast with the most significant cluster being in Amazonas with a RR of 60.32.
- When it came to the temporal trend analysis, overall the situation in Brazil was stable, but increasing trends were evident in the North, South, and Central-West regions.
Recommendations and Implications
- The research results underscore the urgent requirement for a comprehensive epidemiological surveillance system and stricter health regulations in Brazil.
- There is also a critical need to enhance control of equine movement, particularly in high-risk areas in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
- The research also advocates for strengthening early diagnostic capabilities to reduce the spread of Burkholderia mallei, the bacteria causing glanders.
- Implementing education initiatives targeted at specific demographics is deemed essential for curbing the spread of the disease and lessening its socioeconomic and public health impact in Brazil.
Cite This Article
APA
Silva VVD, Leite DPSBM, Gonçalves LMT, Oliveira PRF, Junior JWP, Mota RA.
(2025).
Identification of persistent clusters and temporal trends of glanders in horses throughout Brazil.
Braz J Microbiol, 56(3), 2193-2203.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-025-01730-w Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine - R. Manuel de Medeiros, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco - UFRPE, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, 521771-900, PE, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine - R. Manuel de Medeiros, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco - UFRPE, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, 521771-900, PE, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine - R. Manuel de Medeiros, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco - UFRPE, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, 521771-900, PE, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine - R. Manuel de Medeiros, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco - UFRPE, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, 521771-900, PE, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine - R. Manuel de Medeiros, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco - UFRPE, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, 521771-900, PE, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine - R. Manuel de Medeiros, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco - UFRPE, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, 521771-900, PE, Brazil. rinaldo.mota@hotmail.com.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declarations. Competing interests: The authors state that they are not aware of any financial conflicts of interest or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this article.
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