AUTHOR=Jayasinghearachchi Himali S. , Muthugama Thilini A. , Masakorala Jayanthi , Kulasekara Upeksha S. , Jayaratne Kumari , Jayatunga D. A. Dasun N. , De Silva Aruna D. , Corea Enoka M. 

TITLE=Burkholderia pseudomallei in soil and natural water bodies in rural Sri Lanka: A hidden threat to public health

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1045088

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2022.1045088

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Burkholderia pseudomallei</italic> is the causative agent of the potentially fatal infection, melioidosis. This study provides the first evidence for the presence of <italic>B. pseudomallei</italic> in soil and water in Sri Lanka. Targeted sampling of soil and natural water sources was done between November 2019 and October 2020 over eight field visits encompassing the neighborhood of 28 culture and/or antibody-positive melioidosis patients in northwestern, western and southern Sri Lanka. A total of eight environmental isolates of <italic>B. pseudomallei</italic> (BPs-env1 to BPs-env8) were cultured from 116 soil and 117 natural water samples collected from 72 locations. The presence of <italic>B. pseudomallei</italic> in soil and natural water in these areas poses a risk of melioidosis for populations cultivating crops in such soils and using untreated water from these sources for drinking, bathing, and other domestic purposes. Identifying sites positive for <italic>B. pseudomallei</italic> may help to mitigate risk by raising public awareness of contaminated environmental sources and allowing soil and water remediation.</p>