An Investigation of <i>Burkholderia pseudomallei</i> Seroprevalence in Market Pigs Slaughtered at Selected Pig Abattoirs in Uganda
John E. Ekakoro,
Arnold Lubega,
Edrine B. Kayaga,
Dickson Ndoboli,
Andrew P. Bluhm,
Eddie M. Wampande,
Jason K. Blackburn,
Karyn A. Havas,
Michael H. Norris
Affiliations
John E. Ekakoro
Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Arnold Lubega
School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Edrine B. Kayaga
School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Dickson Ndoboli
School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Andrew P. Bluhm
Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Eddie M. Wampande
School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Jason K. Blackburn
Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Karyn A. Havas
Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Michael H. Norris
Spatial Epidemiology and Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Burkholderia pseudomallei is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes melioidosis, a disease of humans and animals. It is primarily transmitted through direct contact with contaminated soil and surface water. The epidemiology of this pathogen in Africa, including Uganda, is largely unknown. The objectives of this study were to estimate the seroprevalence of B. pseudomallei in pigs slaughtered in central Uganda and to identify potential hotspots for this pathogen in the country. A total of 1035 pig sera were analyzed for serological responses to B. pseudomallei with type A and type B LPS using OPS type A and OPS type B ELISAs. Of the 1035 samples, 75 (7.25%, 95% CI: 5.8–9%) were seropositive to the OPS-A ELISA using a two standard deviations (SD) cutoff and 19 (1.84%, 95% CI: 1.2–2.9%) at 3 SD. For the OPS-B ELISA, 93/1035 (8.99%, 95% CI: 7.4–10.9%) were seropositive at the 2 SD cutoff, and 28/1035 (2.71%, 95% CI: 1.9–3.9%) at the 3 SD cutoff. Pigs slaughtered in central Uganda were exposed to B. pseudomallei, and there is a higher seroprevalence in the rainy months. Public health awareness campaigns about melioidosis may be needed.
