Abstract
BackgroundAlthough melioidosis, is an important disease in many Southeast Asian countries and Australia, there is limited data on its prevalence and disease burden in India. However, an increase in case reports of melioidosis in recent years indicates its endemicity in India.Aims and methodsA population-based cross-sectional seroprevalence study was undertaken to determine the seroprevalence of B. pseudomallei by indirect haemagglutination assay and to investigate the associated risk determinants. Subjects were 711 adults aged 18 to 65 years residing in Udupi district, located in south-western coast of India.Key resultsOverall, 29% of the study subjects were seropositive (titer ≥20). Females were twice as likely to be seropositive compared to males. Rates of seroprevalence were similar in farmers and non-farmers. Besides gardening, other factors including socio-demographic, occupational and environmental factors did not show any relationship with seropositive status.Major conclusionsThere is a serological evidence of exposure to B. pseudomallei among adults in India. While the bacterium inhabits soil, exposure to the agent is not limited to farmers. Non-occupational exposure might play an important role in eliciting antibody response to the bacterium and may also be an important factor in disease causation.
Highlights
Burkholderia pseudomallei, the etiological agent of melioidosis, is known to inhabit the soil and water in endemic areas in countries such as northeast Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and the top end of Northern territory of Australia [1]
There is a serological evidence of exposure to B. pseudomallei among adults in India
While the bacterium inhabits soil, exposure to the agent is not limited to farmers
Summary
Burkholderia pseudomallei, the etiological agent of melioidosis, is known to inhabit the soil and water in endemic areas in countries such as northeast Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and the top end of Northern territory of Australia [1] In these areas, the rural population involved in agricultural activities especially rice farming is at high risk of exposure primarily through inoculation, inhalation or aspiration. The increasing numbers of melioidosis cases reported across India, including our tertiary hospital located in the western coast of South India, strengthens the evidence of its endemicity in India [9,10] Most of these patients are residents from the surrounding rural areas and present with late complications.
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