MELIOIDOSIS AND GLANDERS: CURRENT STATE AND ACTUAL ISSUES OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE

Abstract

Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei are etiologic agents of glanders and melioidosis, the particularly dangerous infections of animals and humans, and are attributed to potential agents of bioterrorism. The manifestation of diseases ranges from acute septicemia to chronic infection, any organs and tissues are affected, andtreatment requires long intravenous and oral antibiotic courses. The endemic zone of glanders and melioidosis covers spacious regions in the world, and the number of imported cases to temperate regions is constantly increasing. For the Russian Federation, glanders and melioidosis are «forgotten» and «unknown» infections, and this review presents current data on their distribution in the world, epidemiological aspects, and laboratory diagnosis features.