Analyze Diet
Emerging infectious diseases2009; 15(12); 2036-2039; doi: 10.3201/eid1512.090738

Molecular epidemiology of glanders, Pakistan.

Abstract: We collected epidemiologic and molecular data from Burkholderia mallei isolates from equines in Punjab, Pakistan from 1999 through 2007. We show that recent outbreaks are genetically distinct from available whole genome sequences and that these genotypes are persistent and ubiquitous in Punjab, probably due to human-mediated movement of equines.
Publication Date: 2009-12-08 PubMed ID: 19961695PubMed Central: PMC3044535DOI: 10.3201/eid1512.090738Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses a study conducted in Punjab, Pakistan, which collected epidemiologic and molecular data from Burkholderia mallei isolates in equines from 1999 through 2007. The researchers’ findings reveal that the recent outbreaks of glanders, a contagious equine disease caused by Burkholderia mallei, were genetically distinct from previously known genotypes, likely due to human-mediated movements of equines.

Research Objectives and Methodology

  • The objective of the research was to study the molecular epidemiology of glanders (an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei) in Punjab, Pakistan. The timeframe of the study spanned from 1999 through 2007.
  • To achieve this, the researchers collected epidemiologic (related to the incidence, distribution, and control of disease) and molecular data from Burkholderia mallei isolates in equines, which are most affected by glanders.

Findings

  • The researchers found that the genotypes from recent outbreaks of glanders were genetically distinct from those available in whole genome sequences.
  • They concluded that these new genotypes were both persistent and ubiquitous in Punjab, as they were present across time and space. The persistence of these genotypes suggests an ongoing source of infection or a highly stable bacterium, while their ubiquity implies a widespread distribution.

Implication of the Findings

  • The human-mediated movement of equines was identified as the likely reason for the outbreak of these genetically distinct genotypes. This could be due to the transportation of infected animals into uninfected areas, consequently spreading the disease and introducing new strains.
  • The study thus stresses the need for effective disease control measures, requiring the combined efforts of veterinarians, horse owners, and public health officials. These measures could include improving hygiene practices, isolating infected animals, and implementing effective vaccination programs.

Importance of the Study

  • The identification of these new, genetically distinct genotypes of Burkholderia mallei contributes to our understanding of the disease’s transmission, persistence, and spread, particularly in regions with a high prevalence of equines.
  • This study also highlights the role of human behaviors, such as the movement of animals, in the transmission of infectious diseases, underlining the importance of an integrated and coordinated approach to disease control.

Cite This Article

APA
Hornstra H, Pearson T, Georgia S, Liguori A, Dale J, Price E, O'Neill M, Deshazer D, Muhammad G, Saqib M, Naureen A, Keim P. (2009). Molecular epidemiology of glanders, Pakistan. Emerg Infect Dis, 15(12), 2036-2039. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1512.090738

Publication

ISSN: 1080-6059
NlmUniqueID: 9508155
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 12
Pages: 2036-2039

Researcher Affiliations

Hornstra, Heidie
  • Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona 86011-4073, USA.
Pearson, Talima
    Georgia, Shalamar
      Liguori, Andrew
        Dale, Julia
          Price, Erin
            O'Neill, Matthew
              Deshazer, David
                Muhammad, Ghulam
                  Saqib, Muhammad
                    Naureen, Abeera
                      Keim, Paul

                        MeSH Terms

                        • Animals
                        • Burkholderia mallei / classification
                        • Burkholderia mallei / genetics
                        • Glanders / epidemiology
                        • Glanders / transmission
                        • Horses
                        • Humans
                        • Minisatellite Repeats
                        • Molecular Epidemiology
                        • Pakistan / epidemiology
                        • Phylogeny

                        Grant Funding

                        • U01 AI075568 / NIAID NIH HHS
                        • U54 AI065359 / NIAID NIH HHS
                        • U54AI-56359 / NIAID NIH HHS
                        • R21 AI056359 / NIAID NIH HHS
                        • R01 AI056359 / NIAID NIH HHS
                        • U01AI-075568 / NIAID NIH HHS

                        References

                        This article includes 15 references
                        1. M’Fadyean J. Glanders.. J Comp Pathol Ther 1904;17:295–317.
                        2. Waag DM, DeShazer D. Glanders: new insights into an old disease. In: Lindler LE, Lebeda FJ, Korch GW, editors. Biological weapons defense: infectious diseases and counterbioterrorism. 1st ed. Totowa (NJ): Humana Press Inc.; 2004. p. 209–37.
                        3. Gilad J, Harary I, Dushnitsky T, Schwartz D, Amsalem Y. Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei as bioterrorism agents: national aspects of emergency preparedness.. Isr Med Assoc J 2007;9:499–503.
                          pubmed: 17710778
                        4. Naureen A, Saqib M, Muhammad G, Hussain MH, Asi MN. Comparative evaluation of Rose Bengal plate agglutination test, mallein test, and some conventional serological tests for diagnosis of equine glanders.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2007;19:362–7.
                          pubmed: 17609344
                        5. Michelle Wong Su Y, Lisanti O, Thibault F, Toh Su S, Loh Gek K, Hilaire V. Validation of ten new polymorphic tandem repeat loci and application to the MLVA typing of Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates collected in Singapore from 1988 to 2004.. J Microbiol Methods 2009 Mar 25.
                          pubmed: 19327380
                        6. Moore DD. Preparation and analysis of DNA.. Current protocols in molecular biology 1995;p. 2.4.1–2.4.2.
                        7. U’Ren JM, Schupp JM, Pearson T, Hornstra H, Friedman CL, Smith KL. Tandem repeat regions within the Burkholderia pseudomallei genome and their application for high resolution genotyping.. BMC Microbiol 2007;7:23.
                          doi: 10.1186/1471-2180-7-23pmc: PMC1853098pubmed: 17397553google scholar: lookup
                        8. NCBI. ENTREZ Genome Project. Burkholderia mallei [cited 2009 Jul 21]. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=genomeprj&cmd=search&term=txid13373
                        9. Pearson T, U’Ren JM, Schupp JM, Allan GJ, Foster PG, Mayo MJ. VNTR analysis of selected outbreaks of Burkholderia pseudomallei in Australia.. Infect Genet Evol 2007;7:416–23.
                          doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2006.12.002pubmed: 17258514google scholar: lookup
                        10. Girard JM, Wagner DM, Vogler AJ, Keys C, Allender CJ, Drickamer LC. Differential plague-transmission dynamics determine Yersinia pestis population genetic structure on local, regional, and global scales.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004;101:8408–13.
                          doi: 10.1073/pnas.0401561101pmc: PMC420407pubmed: 15173603google scholar: lookup
                        11. Godoy D, Randle G, Simpson AJ, Aanensen DM, Pitt TL, Kinoshita R. Multilocus sequence typing and evolutionary relationships among the causative agents of melioidosis and glanders, Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei.. J Clin Microbiol 2003;41:2068–79.
                        12. Pakistan Agriculture Census Organization, Government of Pakistan, Statistics Division. Pakistan livestock census. 2006. [cited 2009 Apr 15]. Available from http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/aco/publications/pakistan-livestock-cencus2006/lsc2006.html
                        13. Al-Ani FK, Al-Delaimi AK, Ali AH. Glanders in horses: clinical and epidemiological studies in Iraq.. Pakistan Vet J 1987;7:126–9.
                        14. Henning MW. Glanders, farcy, droes, malleus. Animal diseases in South Africa being an account of the infectious diseases of domestic animals. Third edition (completely revised) including a description of a number of diseases not reported in the previous edition. Johannesburg (South Africa): Central News Agency Ltd.; 1956.
                        15. Miller WR, Pannell L, Cravitz L, Tanner WA, Ingalls MS. Studies on certain biological characteristics of Malleomyces mallei and Malleomyces pseudomallei: I. morphology, cultivation, viability, and isolation from contaminated specimens.. J Bacteriol 1948;55:115–26.
                          pmc: PMC518415pubmed: 16561426

                        Citations

                        This article has been cited 14 times.
                        1. Bonsi M, Anderson NE, Carder G. The Socioeconomic Impact of Diseases of Working Equids in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Critical Review. Animals (Basel) 2023 Dec 15;13(24).
                          doi: 10.3390/ani13243865pubmed: 38136902google scholar: lookup
                        2. Brangsch H, Singha H, Laroucau K, Elschner M. Sequence-based detection and typing procedures for Burkholderia mallei: Assessment and prospects. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:1056996.
                          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1056996pubmed: 36452150google scholar: lookup
                        3. Appelt S, Rohleder AM, Jacob D, von Buttlar H, Georgi E, Mueller K, Wernery U, Kinne J, Joseph M, Jose SV, Scholz HC. Genetic diversity and spatial distribution of Burkholderia mallei by core genome-based multilocus sequence typing analysis. PLoS One 2022;17(7):e0270499.
                          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270499pubmed: 35793321google scholar: lookup
                        4. Brangsch H, Saqib M, Sial AUR, Melzer F, Linde J, Elschner MC. Sequencing-Based Genotyping of Pakistani Burkholderia mallei Strains: A Useful Way for Investigating Glanders Outbreaks. Pathogens 2022 May 24;11(6).
                          doi: 10.3390/pathogens11060614pubmed: 35745468google scholar: lookup
                        5. Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Schmidt CG, Herskin M, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Spoolder H, Ståhl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Gubbins S, Laroucau K, Antoniou SE, Aznar I, Broglia A, Lima E, Van der Stede Y, Zancanaro G, Roberts HC. Assessment of the control measures of the category A diseases of Animal Health Law: Burkholderia mallei (Glanders). EFSA J 2022 Jan;20(1):e07069.
                          doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7069pubmed: 35035583google scholar: lookup
                        6. Shanmugasundaram K, Singha H, Saini S, Tripathi BN. 16S rDNA and ITS Sequence Diversity of Burkholderia mallei Isolated from Glanders-Affected Horses and Mules in India (2013-2019). Curr Microbiol 2021 Dec 18;79(1):31.
                          doi: 10.1007/s00284-021-02701-8pubmed: 34921617google scholar: lookup
                        7. Singha H, Elschner MC, Malik P, Saini S, Tripathi BN, Mertens-Scholz K, Brangsch H, Melzer F, Singh RK, Neubauer H. Molecular Typing of Burkholderia mallei Isolates from Equids with Glanders, India. Emerg Infect Dis 2021 Jun;27(6):1745-1748.
                          doi: 10.3201/eid2706.203232pubmed: 34013856google scholar: lookup
                        8. Yazdansetad S, Mosavari N, Tadayon K, Mehregan I. Development of an immunoblotting assay for serodiagnosis of Burkholderia mallei infection: the whole-cell proteome-based paradigm. Iran J Microbiol 2019 Jun;11(3):232-238.
                          pubmed: 31523407
                        9. Hatcher CL, Mott TM, Muruato LA, Sbrana E, Torres AG. Burkholderia mallei CLH001 Attenuated Vaccine Strain Is Immunogenic and Protects against Acute Respiratory Glanders. Infect Immun 2016 Aug;84(8):2345-54.
                          doi: 10.1128/IAI.00328-16pubmed: 27271739google scholar: lookup
                        10. Malik P, Singha H, Goyal SK, Khurana SK, Tripathi BN, Dutt A, Singh D, Sharma N, Jain S. Incidence of Burkholderia mallei infection among indigenous equines in India. Vet Rec Open 2015;2(2):e000129.
                          doi: 10.1136/vetreco-2015-000129pubmed: 26457190google scholar: lookup
                        11. Shabbir MZ, Jamil T, Ali AA, Ahmad A, Naeem M, Chaudhary MH, Bilal M, Ali MA, Muhammad K, Yaqub T, Bano A, Mirza AI, Shabbir MA, McVey WR, Patel K, Francesconi S, Jayarao BM, Rabbani M. Prevalence and distribution of soil-borne zoonotic pathogens in Lahore district of Pakistan. Front Microbiol 2015;6:917.
                          doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00917pubmed: 26441860google scholar: lookup
                        12. Scholz HC, Pearson T, Hornstra H, Projahn M, Terzioglu R, Wernery R, Georgi E, Riehm JM, Wagner DM, Keim PS, Joseph M, Johnson B, Kinne J, Jose S, Hepp CM, Witte A, Wernery U. Genotyping of Burkholderia mallei from an outbreak of glanders in Bahrain suggests multiple introduction events. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014 Sep;8(9):e3195.
                          doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003195pubmed: 25255232google scholar: lookup
                        13. Saqib M, Muhammad G, Naureen A, Hussain MH, Asi MN, Mansoor MK, Toufeer M, Khan I, Neubauer H, Sprague LD. Effectiveness of an antimicrobial treatment scheme in a confined glanders outbreak. BMC Vet Res 2012 Nov 7;8:214.
                          doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-8-214pubmed: 23134717google scholar: lookup
                        14. Wernery U, Wernery R, Joseph M, Al-Salloom F, Johnson B, Kinne J, Jose S, Jose S, Tappendorf B, Hornstra H, Scholz HC. Natural Burkholderia mallei infection in Dromedary, Bahrain. Emerg Infect Dis 2011 Jul;17(7):1277-9.
                          doi: 10.3201/eid1707.110222pubmed: 21762586google scholar: lookup