A Study of Burkholderia pseudomallei in the Environment of Farms in Thanlyin and Hmawbi Townships, Myanmar

Abstract

. Melioidosis is a tropical infection, first described in Myanmar but now rarely diagnosed there, which is widespread in Southeast Asia. The infection is predominantly acquired by people and animals through contact with soil or water. This study aimed to detect the causative organism, Burkholderia pseudomallei , in environmental samples from farms in Thanlyin and Hmawbi townships near Yangon, Myanmar. One hundred and twenty soil samples and 12 water samples were collected and processed using standard microbiological methods. Burkholderia species were isolated from 50 of the 120 (42%) soil samples but none of the water samples. Arabinose assimilation was tested to differentiate between B. pseudomallei and the nonpathogenic Burkholderia thailandensis , and seven of 50 isolates (14%) were negative. These were all confirmed as B. pseudomallei by a species-specific multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This is the first study to detect environmental B. pseudomallei in Myanmar and confirms that melioidosis is still endemic in the Yangon area.

Geographical distribution of Burkholderia pseudomallei in soil in Myanmar

“…Limmathurotsakul et al suggested that the burden of melioidosis in Myanmar was more than 6,000 cases and 3,000 deaths per year. [1] Recently two small studies confirmed the presence of B. pseudomallei in the soil in three regions (Yangon, Ayeyarwaddy and Bago) [26,27] but the national distribution in Myanmar remains unknown. We therefore carried out a nationwide study to identify the geographical distribution of B. pseudomallei in soil in Myanmar.…”

“…Recently two small studies confirmed the presence of B . pseudomallei in the soil in three regions (Yangon, Ayeyarwaddy and Bago) [ 26 , 27 ] but the national distribution in Myanmar remains unknown. We therefore carried out a nationwide study to identify the geographical distribution of B .…”

Myanmar Burkholderia pseudomallei strains are genetically diverse and originate from Asia with phylogenetic evidence of reintroductions from neighbouring countries

“…The diagnosis of culture-confirmed human melioidosis cases at Yangon General Hospital in 2009 prompted soil sampling on two farms in nearby townships, Hmawbi and Thanlyin. B. pseudomallei was isolated from seven soil samples: five from Hmawbi and two from Thanlyin 11 . Subsequently a systematic survey of the environment in Myanmar was initiated in 2018 in order to identify areas of high melioidosis risk (Smithuis, manuscript in preparation).…”

Observational study of adult respiratory infections in primary care clinics in Myanmar: understanding the burden of melioidosis, tuberculosis and other infections not covered by empirical treatment regimes

“… 6 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection does not appear to increase the risk of melioidosis. 7 Recent soil sampling surveys have demonstrated the presence of B. pseudomallei in central Myanmar, including Yangon, 8 , 9 yet there have been few published clinical cases in Myanmar since 1942. 10 , 11 Difficulties diagnosing B. pseudomallei in resource-poor endemic regions include lack of physician awareness of the disease, clinical and radiological mimicry of other bacterial infections, especially tuberculosis (TB), 12 and limited access to specialist laboratory facilities and expertise required for diagnosis.…”