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Rivers as carriers and potential sentinels for Burkholderia pseudomallei in Laos

Zimmermann, Rosalie E. and Ribolzi, Olivier and Pierret, Alain and Rattanavong, Sayaphet and Robinson, Matthew T. and Newton, Paul N. and Davong, Viengmon and Auda, Yves and Zopfi, Jakob and Dance, David A. B.. (2018) Rivers as carriers and potential sentinels for Burkholderia pseudomallei in Laos. Scientific Reports, 8 (1). p. 8674.

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Abstract

Burkholderia pseudomallei, causative agent of the often fatal disease melioidosis, dwells in tropical soils and has been found in freshwater bodies. To investigate whether rivers are potential habitats or carriers for B. pseudomallei and to assess its geographical distribution in Laos, we studied 23 rivers including the Mekong, applying culture-based detection methods and PCR to water filters and streambed sediments. B. pseudomallei was present in 9% of the rivers in the dry season and in 57% in the rainy season. We found the pathogen exclusively in Southern and Central Laos, and mainly in turbid river water, while sediments were positive in 35% of the B. pseudomallei-positive sites. Our results provide evidence for a heterogeneous temporal and spatial distribution of B. pseudomallei in rivers in Laos with a clear north-south contrast. The seasonal dynamics and predominant occurrence of B. pseudomallei in particle-rich water suggest that this pathogen is washed out with eroded soil during periods of heavy rainfall and transported by rivers, while river sediments do not seem to be permanent habitats for B. pseudomallei. Rivers may thus be useful to assess the distribution and aquatic dispersal of B. pseudomallei and other environmental pathogens in their catchment area and beyond.
Faculties and Departments:05 Faculty of Science > Departement Umweltwissenschaften > Geowissenschaften > Aquatic and Isotope Biogeochemistry (Lehmann)
09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)
09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) > Former Units within Swiss TPH > Travel Clinic (Kling)
UniBasel Contributors:Zimmermann, Rosalie and Zopfi, Jakob
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Springer Nature
ISSN:0169-5487
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Language:English
Identification Number:
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Last Modified:03 Aug 2020 13:23
Deposited On:04 Jul 2018 08:57

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