Short report: Melioidosis in Myanmar: forgotten but not gone?

A serologic survey of adults resident in Myanmar was conducted to define the presence of antibodies to Burkholderia pseudomallei, the cause of melioidosis. Antibodies were detectable by indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) in 757 (78%) of 968 adults, of whom 69 (7%) had an IHA titer > or =1:160.

Development of antibodies to Burkholderia pseudomallei during childhood in melioidosis-endemic northeast Thailand.

A cross-sectional serological survey of 2,214 children living in northeast Thailand was conducted to define the antibody response to Burkholderia pseudomallei from birth to 14 years. There was a sharp rise in detectable antibodies from birth to 4 years followed by reactivity in approximately 60-70% of children thereafter.

Serological evidence for increased human exposure to Burkholderia pseudomallei following the tsunami in southern Thailand.

A serological study was performed to determine recent human exposure to Burkholderia pseudomallei (the cause of melioidosis) in residents of southern Thailand affected by the tsunami of 26 December 2004. The findings were suggestive of increased recent exposure in both tsunami survivors and uninjured bystanders. Survivors of the Thailand tsunami may be at increased risk of melioidosis.

Antibodies from patients with melioidosis recognize Burkholderia mallei but not Burkholderia thailandensis antigens in the indirect hemagglutination assay.

The indirect hemagglutination assay routinely used to detect antibodies to Burkholderia pseudomallei was modified to detect cross-reactivity of antibodies to B. pseudomallei, B. mallei, and B. thailandensis antigens. We demonstrate a lack of cross-reactivity between B. pseudomallei and B. thailandensis but marked cross-reactivity between B. pseudomallei and B. mallei.