AUTHOR=Shabbir Muhammad Z., Jamil Tariq , Muhammad Khushi , Yaqub Tahir , Bano Asghari , MIrza Ali I., Bilal Muhammad , Ahmad Arfan , Ali Muhammad A., Ali Asad A., Chaudhary Muhammad H., Naeem Muhammad , Shabbir Muhammad A., McVey Walter R., Patel Ketan , Francesconi Stephen , Rabbani Masood , Jayarao Bhushan 

TITLE=Prevalence and distribution of soil-borne zoonotic pathogens in Lahore district of Pakistan

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2015

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00917

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2015.00917

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>A multidisciplinary, collaborative project was conducted to determine the prevalence and distribution of soil-borne zoonotic pathogens in Lahore district of Pakistan and ascertain its Public Health Significance. Using a grid-based sampling strategy, soil samples (<italic>n</italic> = 145) were collected from villages (<italic>n</italic> = 29, 5 samples/village) and examined for <italic>Bacillus anthracis, Burkholderia mallei/pseudomallei, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis</italic>, and <italic>Yersinia pestis</italic> using real time PCR assays. Chemical analysis of soil samples was also performed on these samples. The relationship between soil composition and absence or presence of the pathogen, and seven risk factors was evaluated. DNA of <italic>B. anthracis</italic> (CapB), <italic>B. mallei/pseudomallei</italic> (chromosomal gene)<italic>, C. burnetii</italic> (IS1111, transposase gene), and <italic>F. tularensis</italic> (lipoprotein/outer membrane protein) was detected in 9.6, 1.4, 4.8, and 13.1% of soil samples, respectively. None of the samples were positive for protective antigen plasmid (PA) of <italic>B. anthracis</italic> and <italic>Y. pestis</italic> (plasminogen activating factor, pPla gene). The prevalence of <italic>B. anthracis</italic> (CapB) was found to be associated with organic matter, magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), sodium (Na), ferrous (Fe), calcium (Ca), and potassium (K). Phosphorous (P) was found to be associated with prevalence of <italic>F. tularensis</italic> while it were Mg, Co, Na, Fe, Ca, and K for <italic>C. burnetii</italic>. The odds of detecting DNA of <italic>F. tularensis</italic> were 2.7, 4.1, and 2.7 higher when soil sample sites were &gt;1 km from animal markets, &gt;500 m from vehicular traffic roads and animal density of &lt; 1000 animals, respectively. While the odds of detecting DNA of <italic>C. burnetii</italic> was 32, 11.8, and 5.9 higher when soil sample sites were &gt;500 m from vehicular traffic roads, presence of ground cover and animal density of &lt; 1000 animals, respectively. In conclusion, the distribution pattern of the soil-borne pathogens in and around the areas of Lahore district puts both human and animal populations at a high risk of exposure. Further studies are needed to explore the genetic nature and molecular diversity of prevailing pathogens together with their seroconversion in animals and humans.</p>