Summary:

Evidence is mounting that soil disturbance and changes in land use practices are associated with an increased incidence of the melioidosis-causing soil bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei. We are analysing the occurrence of the bacterium on construction sites, in residential gardens, in rural bore water and in an animal park.

Next we will investigate ways to decrease the numbers of these bacteria in soil and water to reduce the exposure to humans.

Chief investigator:
Project manager and contact:
Project dates:

The project commenced in June 2011 and is scheduled for completion in December 2015.

Funders:

ARC-Linkage project with partners:

  • Territory Alliance
  • Sitzler Pty Ltd
  • Wildlife Management International
  • Land Resource Management, Water Resources Division Department, Northern Territory Government.
Collaborators:
  • Land Resource Management, Water Resources Division Department, Northern Territory Government.
  1. McRobb, E., Kaestli, M., Mayo, M., Price, E.P., Sarovich, D.S., Godoy, D. (2013). Melioidosis from Contaminated Bore Water and Successful UV Sterilization. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 89(2), 367-368.
  2. Hill, A., Mayo, M., Kaestli, M., Price, E.P., Richardson, L., et al. (2013). Melioidosis as a Consequence of Sporting Activity. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 12(0744).
  3. Kaestli, M., Schmid, M., Mayo, M., Rothballer, M., Harrington, G., et al. (2011). Out of the Ground: Aerial and Exotic Habitats of the Melioidosis Bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei in Grasses in Australia. Environmental Microbiology. doi:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2011.02671.x
  4. Mayo, M., Kaestli, M., Harrington, G., Cheng, A.C., Ward, L., et al. (2011). Burkholderia pseudomallei in Un-chlorinated Domestic Bore Water in Tropical Northern Australia; Distribution, Diversity and Relationships to Human Melioidosis Cases. Emerging Infectious Disease Journal, 17(7) July.
  5. Kaestli, M., Hampton, V., Mayo, M., Low Choy, J., Harrington, G., et al. (2011). Melioidosis in birds in Australia and the potential for dispersal of Burkholderia pseudomallei. Emerging Infectious Disease Journal 17(7) July.
  6. Draper, A.D., Mayo, M., Harrington, G., Karp, D., Yinfoo, D., et al. (2010). Association of the Melioidosis Agent Burkholderia pseudomallei with Water Parameters in Rural Water Supplies in Northern Australia. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. June 11. PMID: 20543039
  7. Kaestli, M., Mayo, M., Harrington, G., Ward, L., Hill, J., et al. (2009). Landscape Changes Influence the Occurrence of the Melioidosis Bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei in Soil in Northern Australia. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 3(1),  e364. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000364
  8. Kaestli, M., Mayo, M., Harrington, G., Hill, J., Watt, F., Gal, D., et al. (2007). Sensitive and specific molecular detection of Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, in the soil of tropical northern Australia. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 73(21), 6891-6897.