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Journal of veterinary medicine. B, Infectious diseases and veterinary public health2005; 52(5); 201-205; doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0450.2005.00855.x

Serodiagnosis of Burkholderia mallei infections in horses: state-of-the-art and perspectives.

Abstract: Burkholderia mallei causes glanders or farcy in solipeds, a disease that must be reported to the OIE (Office International des Epizooties, Paris, France). The number of reported outbreaks has increased steadily during the last decade. Serodiagnosis is hampered by the considerable number of false-positives and -negatives of the internationally prescribed tests. The major problem leading to low sensitivity and specificity of complement fixation test (CFT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been linked to the test antigens currently used, i.e. crude preparations of whole cells. Future perspectives for the development and evaluation of serological test kits using well-characterized single antigens are discussed in the light of recent molecular research on B. mallei and the closely related saprozoonotic agent B. pseudomallei.
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Publication Date: 2005-08-24 PubMed ID: 16115091DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0450.2005.00855.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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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 deals with advancements in diagnosing Burkholderia mallei infections in horses and the problems associated with existing diagnostic tests. The authors discuss potential improvements in these tests based on recent molecular research.

Background on Burkholderia mallei Infections

  • The bacterium Burkholderia mallei is responsible for causing glanders or farcy in solipeds (a family of horses). This study deals with the disease’s serodiagnosis, which is identification based on antibodies or antigen detection in the blood.
  • The research acknowledges that there has been a consistent rise in the number of reported outbreaks of this disease over the last ten years, and that it is a sickness that needs to be reported to the OIE (Office International des Epizooties, Paris, France), an international animal health organization.

Current Issues in Serodiagnosis

  • The current testing methods for glanders have a significant degree of false-positives and -negatives, which hampers accurate diagnosis and disease management.
  • Two common diagnostic methods mentioned are the complement fixation test (CFT) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). They both lack accuracy due to the use of unrefined preparations of whole cell bacteria as test antigens.

Future Perspectives and Recent Molecular Research

  • The researchers propose that the future of Burkholderia mallei infection serodiagnosis may involve developing and evaluating tests that use well-identified single antigens instead of crude whole cells which will increase the test’s sensitivity and specificity.
  • They suggest that the implications of this approach should be considered in view of recent molecular research on B. mallei itself and the closely related saprozoonotic bacterium, B. pseudomallei.
  • The mention of B. pseudomallei suggests that they are exploring commonalities with other bacteria for developing more reliable serodiagnosis tests.

Cite This Article

APA
Neubauer H, Sprague LD, Zacharia R, Tomaso H, Al Dahouk S, Wernery R, Wernery U, Scholz HC. (2005). Serodiagnosis of Burkholderia mallei infections in horses: state-of-the-art and perspectives. J Vet Med B Infect Dis Vet Public Health, 52(5), 201-205. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0450.2005.00855.x

Publication

Journal of veterinary medicine. B, Infectious diseases and veterinary public health
ISSN: 0931-1793
NlmUniqueID: 100955260
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 5
Pages: 201-205

Researcher Affiliations

Neubauer, H
  • Institut für Mikrobiologie der Bundeswehr, Neuherbergstr. 11, 80937 München, Germany. heinrichneubauer@bundeswehr.org
Sprague, L D
    Zacharia, R
      Tomaso, H
        Al Dahouk, S
          Wernery, R
            Wernery, U
              Scholz, H C

                MeSH Terms

                • Animals
                • Burkholderia Infections / diagnosis
                • Burkholderia Infections / veterinary
                • Burkholderia mallei / immunology
                • Burkholderia mallei / isolation & purification
                • Complement Fixation Tests / veterinary
                • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
                • Horse Diseases / blood
                • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
                • Horses
                • Predictive Value of Tests
                • Sensitivity and Specificity
                • Serologic Tests / methods
                • Serologic Tests / veterinary

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