A cluster of melioidosis cases from an endemic region is clonal and is linked to the water supply using molecular typing of Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 65; no. 3; pp. 177 - 179
• Main Authors: Currie, BJ, Mayo, M, Anstey, NM, Donohoe, P, Haase, A, Kemp, DJ
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence, KS ASTMH 01.09.2001; Allen Press
• Subjects: Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Burkholderia pseudomallei - genetics; Burkholderia pseudomallei - growth & development; Burkholderia pseudomallei - isolation & purification; Clone Cells; DNA, Bacterial - chemistry; DNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Endemic Diseases; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Melioidosis - epidemiology; Melioidosis - microbiology; Melioidosis - transmission; Miscellaneous; Northern Territory - epidemiology; Oceanic Ancestry Group; Prospective Studies; Rural Population; Soil Microbiology; Tropical bacterial diseases; Tropical medicine; Water Microbiology; water-borne diseases; Northern Territory; Australia; Infection; Human; Melioidosis; Water supply; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Contamination
• ISSN: 0002-9637; 1476-1645
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2001.65.177

Nine cases of melioidosis with four deaths occurred over a 28-month period in members of a small remote Aboriginal community in the top end of the Northern Territory of Australia. Typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed isolates of Burkholderia pseudomallei from six of the cases to be clonal and also identical to an isolate from the community water supply, but not to soil isolates. The clonality of the isolates found in this cluster contrasts with the marked genetic diversity of human and environmental isolates found in this region which is hyperendemic for B. pseudomallei. It is possible that the clonal bacteria persisted and were propagated in biofilm in the water supply system. While the exact mode of transmission to humans and the reasons for cessation of the outbreak remain uncertain, contamination of the unchlorinated community water supply is a likely explanation.