ZOONOTIC ASPECTS OF BURKHOLDERIA MALLEI INFECTION(GLANDERS)

Background and Aim : Burkholderia mallei is a Gram-negative, non-motile, non-sporulating,intracellular bacterium which causes subcutaneous infection called as farcy or disseminatedinfection known as glanders in horses, mules and donkeys. Clinically the disease is acute, oftenfatal in donkeys and mules or chronic in horses. Equine glanders is a contagious and transmissibleto closely exposed human. It is considered as occupational hazards to horse caretakers, equinehandlers, veterinarians and laboratory workers. In India, re-emergence of equine glanders has beenreported in ۲۰۰۶ and increasing trend of glanders was observed from ۲۰۱۵ onward.Methods : The present study describes the report of targeted surveillance conducted in glandersin-contact equine handlers and veterinarians.Results : A total of ۷۳۵ serum samples from glanders in-contact humans were collected between۲۰۱۶ and ۲۰۲۱ from different states in India. Samples were tested serologically by complementfixation test (CFT) and Hcp۱ indirect ELISA. Only one sample was found to be positive for B.mallei specific antibodies and rest of the sera were found to be negative for glanders. Clinical andlaboratory investigation confirm that the equine handler had contracted B. mallei infection fromglanders affected equines in his premises. In India, the last reported case of naturally occurringhuman glanders in a British veterinarian was documented in ۱۹۱۱.Conclusion : This study reports the first case of human glanders after ۱۰۹ years in India. Lack ofawareness among equine keepers about glanders disease and improper bio-security measures whilehandling of infected equines may favours the transmission of B. mallei to humans.

کلیدواژه ها:

Glanders ، ELISA ، CFT ، Equines ، Humans