Serological screening in animals combined with environmental surveys provides definite proof of the local establishment ofBurkholderia pseudomalleiin Guadeloupe

Abstract

Background: Melioidosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by the soil-dwelling bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei that affects both humans and animals. It is endemic in South and Southeast Asia, and northern Australia, causing an estimated 165,000 human cases annually worldwide. Human cases have been reported in the French West Indies (Martinique and Guadeloupe) since the 1990s. Conversely, no human cases have been reported in French Guiana, a French territory in South America. Our study aimed to investigate whether B. pseudomallei is locally established in Guadeloupe and French Guiana. We assessed animal exposure by serology and examined the presence of B. pseudomallei in the environment of seropositive animals. Methodology/Principal findings: Blood samples were collected from domestic animals in two goat farms in Les Saintes, Guadeloupe (n=31), and in 56 farms in French Guiana (n=670) and tested by ELISA. Serological follow up was performed on selected farms. Soil, water and goat rectal swabs were collected and analysed by culture and PCR. In French Guiana, the highest prevalence rates were observed in equids (24%) and cattle (16%), while in Les Saintes, a prevalence of 39% was observed in goats. The longitudinal study in Les Saintes revealed consistent high seropositivity in goats. A B. pseudomallei strain was isolated from the soil from one of the farms and detected in goat rectal swabs from the other farm. Conclusions/Significance: Our environmental investigation prompted by the serologic data confirms the presence of B. pseudomallei in Les Saintes, consistent with documented human cases of melioidosis on this island. In French Guiana, our serologic results call for environmental surveys and a re-evaluation of human infections with melioidosis-like symptoms. The approach developed in this study may help to identify high-risk areas that warrant further investigation.

Tracking melioidosis in Iran: Utilizing abattoir‐based surveillance as a One Health approach

“…Although indirect haemagglutination, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, complement fixation test and several biochemical and PCR assays have been developed for diagnosing melioidosis in susceptible species, they are not reliable enough due to their lack of sensitivity and specificity (Desoutter et al., 2024 ; Gasque et al., 2024 ). The most reliable diagnostic test is culture, even though there exists a possibility of false‐negative results (Wiersinga et al., 2018 ; Novak et al., 2006 ).…”