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Review
. 2018 Jun 5;3(2):60.
doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed3020060.

Melioidosis in South America

Dionne B Rolim  1   2 , Rachel Ximenes R Lima  3 , Ana Karoline C Ribeiro  4 , Rafael M Colares  5 , Leoniti D Q Lima  6 , Alfonso J Rodríguez-Morales  7 , Franco E Montúfar  8   9   10 , David A B Dance  11   12   13
Affiliations
Review

Melioidosis in South America

Dionne B Rolim et al. Trop Med Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Melioidosis is an emerging disease in the Americas. This paper reviews confirmed cases, the presence of Burkholderia pseudomallei and the organization of national surveillance policies for melioidosis in South America. Confirmed cases in humans have been reported from Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, and Peru. The bacterium has been isolated from the environment in Brazil and Peru. The state of Ceará, northeastern region of Brazil, is the only place where specific public strategies and policies for melioidosis have been developed. We also discuss the urgent need for health authorities in South America to pay greater attention to this disease, which has the potential to have a high impact on public health, and the importance of developing coordinated strategies amongst countries in this region.

Keywords: Burkholderia pseudomallei; South America; melioidosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Melioidosis in South America.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Melioidosis in Brazil.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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