Molecular Patterns of Burkholderia pseudomallei in Taiwan, 2011-2014

DOI: 10.6525/TEB.20151208.31(23).002

Chia-Lin Chen^＊, Shih-Hui Chiu, Jung-Jung Mu

2015 Vol.31 NO.23

Correspondence Author： Chia-Lin Chen^＊

Abstract：

Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is endemic in southeast Asia and northern Australia. Taiwan Centers for Disease Control started surveillance for melioidosis since 2000; among the 256 cases identified from 2005 to 2010, southwestern Taiwan had the highest incidence, especially in Kaohsiung City. In this study, we reviewed 114 cases of melioidosis reported from 2011 to 2014, with the highest incidence occurring in southwestern Taiwan. Molecular typing was carried out by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Of the 7 clusters identified, 4 (57.1%) are the emerging patterns since 2004. Moreover, 88.6% of B. pseudomallei isolates belong to typeVI which is found mostly in Kaohsiung-Pingtung region. There is a trend that type VI is becoming the dominant type. Melioidosis should be taken into consideration for patients with domestic or foreign travel history in endemic areas.