Emergence of melioidosis in the Indian Ocean region: Two new cases and a literature review

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Dec 14;11(12):e0006018. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006018. eCollection 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Melioidosis is a disease caused by bacteria called B. pseudomallei. Infections can develop after contact with standing water. This disease can reach all the organs and especially the lungs. It is associated with a high mortality rate (up to 50%). Melioidosis is endemic in northern Australia and in Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, B. pseudomallei may be endemic in the Indian Ocean region and in Madagascar in particular, so clinicians and microbiologists should consider acute melioidosis as a differential diagnosis in the Indian Ocean region, in particular from Madagascar.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / isolation & purification
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / pathogenicity*
  • Humans
  • Indian Ocean / epidemiology
  • Indonesia
  • Madagascar
  • Male
  • Melioidosis / diagnosis*
  • Melioidosis / epidemiology
  • Melioidosis / microbiology*
  • Melioidosis / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged
  • White People

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.