Burkholderia pseudomallei Genotype Distribution in the Northern Territory, Australia

Stephanie N. J. Chapple Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Diseases and Northern Territory Medical Program, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

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Erin P. Price Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Diseases and Northern Territory Medical Program, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

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Derek S. Sarovich Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Diseases and Northern Territory Medical Program, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

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Evan McRobb Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Diseases and Northern Territory Medical Program, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

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Mark Mayo Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Diseases and Northern Territory Medical Program, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

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Mirjam Kaestli Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Diseases and Northern Territory Medical Program, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

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Brian G. Spratt Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Diseases and Northern Territory Medical Program, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

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Bart J. Currie Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Diseases and Northern Territory Medical Program, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.15-0627
Volume/Issue:
Volume 94: Issue 1
Page(s):
68–72
Restricted access
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Melioidosis is a tropical disease of high mortality caused by the environmental bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei. We have collected clinical isolates from the highly endemic Northern Territory of Australia routinely since 1989, and animal and environmental B. pseudomallei isolates since 1991. Here we provide a complete record of all B. pseudomallei multilocus sequence types (STs) found in the Northern Territory to date, and distribution maps of the eight most common environmental STs. We observed surprisingly restricted geographic distributions of STs, which is contrary to previous reports suggesting widespread environmental dissemination of this bacterium. Our data suggest that B. pseudomallei from soil and water does not frequently disperse long distances following severe weather events or by migration of infected animals.

Author Notes

* Address correspondence to Bart J. Currie, Menzies School of Health Research, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, Northern Territory 0811, Australia. E-mail: bart.currie@menzies.edu.au

Authors' addresses: Stephanie N. J. Chapple, Erin P. Price, Derek S. Sarovich, Evan McRobb, Mark Mayo, and Mirjam Kaestli, Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia, E-mails: stephanie.chapple@menzies.edu.au, erin.price@menzies.edu.au, derek.sarovich@menzies.edu.au, evan.mcrobb@menzies.edu.au, mark.mayo@menzies.edu.au, and mirjam.kaestli@menzies.edu.au. Brian G. Spratt, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom, E-mail: b.spratt@imperial.ac.uk. Bart J. Currie, Royal Darwin Hospital and Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia 0811, E-mail: bart.currie@menzies.edu.au.

Copyright:
© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2016
Received:
26 Aug 2015
|
Accepted:
22 Sep 2015
|
Published Online:
06 Jan 2016
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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