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Animal melioidosis in Australia
Acta Tropica
|February 16, 2000
Summary
Melioidosis affects various Australian animals, causing diverse symptoms and sometimes fatal outcomes, particularly in goats and sheep. Studying animal melioidosis, including its genetic aspects, is crucial for understanding this zoonotic disease in humans.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Zoonotic Pathogens
Background:
- Melioidosis has been endemic in tropical Australia since its first diagnosis in sheep in 1949.
- The disease affects numerous animal species, exhibiting latency and varied clinical signs, with some species developing illness only when immunocompromised.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of melioidosis in Australian animals.
- To highlight the significance of animal melioidosis research for understanding human infections.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and case reports on melioidosis in Australian fauna.
- Molecular typing of Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates from animals, humans, and environmental sources.
Main Results:
- Sheep and goats are highly susceptible, with documented cases of aortic lesions, aneurysm rupture, and transplacental transmission in goats.
- While zoonotic transmission is rare, identical Burkholderia pseudomallei strains have been identified in animals, humans, and soil, indicating shared sources.
- Melioidosis occurs in diverse wildlife, including birds, crocodiles, and kangaroos, and has been observed in camels and alpacas.
Conclusions:
- Animal melioidosis presents a significant public health concern due to potential zoonotic transmission and shared epidemiological features with human disease.
- Molecular genetic techniques are vital for identifying and typing Burkholderia pseudomallei, aiding in understanding disease transmission dynamics in both animals and humans.