Natural Burkholderia mallei Infection in Dromedary, Bahrain

Abstract

We confirm a natural infection of dromedaries with glanders. Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis of a Burkholderia mallei strain isolated from a diseased dromedary in Bahrain revealed close genetic proximity to strain Dubai 7, which caused an outbreak of glanders in horses in the United Arab Emirates in 2004.

Morphological Characteristics of Three Classic Forms of Natural Equine Glanders – A Disease With High Zoonotic Significance

“…Besides domestic equids, many other species are susceptible to glanders. Reports describe animals were infected after eating glanderous me at or being in close proximity of a glanderous animal [5,6]. Laboratory animals also can be naturally infected [7].…”

Complete Genome Sequence of a Burkholderia mallei Isolate Originating from a Glanderous Horse from the Kingdom of Bahrain

“…In 2010 and 2011 Bahrain reported two events consisting of several cases in horses, most of them found in northern governorates (2). For the outbreak in 2010, infection of a dromedary was also reported (3). Genomic characterization of several isolates from this area by multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis based on 23 different loci showed the involvement of multiple B. mallei strains in these outbreaks (4).…”

Glanders in Animals: A Review on Epidemiology, Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis and Countermeasures

“…Sheep and goats have been infected with glanders (Hu et al., 1958). Camels are also susceptible, and B. mallei has recently been isolated from a camel, which had been in close proximity of an infected horse (Hutyra et al., 1938; WAHID, 2011c, Wernery et al., 2011).…”

“…Its current genus Burkholderia was proposed in 1992 on the basis of 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) sequences, DNA–DNA homology values, cellular lipid and fatty acid composition, and phenotypic characteristics (Yabuuchi et al., 1992). Glanders can be considered as a re‐emerging disease as the number of outbreaks in solipeds and other animals, for example zoo carnivores (tigers and lions) and camels has steadily risen during the last two decades (Alibasoglu et al., 1986; Wittig et al., 2006; Wernery et al., 2011; ProMED, 2011a). Because of the fatal and contagious nature of the disease in humans, B. mallei is considered to be a potential agent of bioterrorism.…”