An investigation into the importance of potable water as a source of melioidosis in Northern Australia

Funded Activity Summary

Melioidosis is a potentially fatal infection that occurs throughout the Top End. Infection usually sets in after exposure to contaminated soil or surface water. A recent outbreak of melioidosis in which three of seven cases died was traced to the community's drinking water supply. Subsequent improvements to the community's drinking water treatment appear to have brought the outbreak under control. However, the ability of the bacteria responsible for this infection to survive within the body for many years before causing late onset infection means that further cases may be recorded in the affected community for years to come. This project aims to assess whether the drinking water supply to other rural communities presents a risk of melioidosis throughout the Top End. Drinking water supplies will be tested for the presence of the bacteria that cause melioidosis. Genetic fingerprinting will be used to compare each strain isolated from water specimens with strains obtained from infections previously diagnosed in hospitals throughout the Top End. This will involve the combined efforts of researchers in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. Comparison of these results with standard measures of drinking water quality will enable the research team to work out whether any routinely performed tests can be used as a guide to melioidosis risk. The team will also examine whether any geographical features such as deep water supply or the type of vegetation present can be used to assess melioidosis risk. A clearer picture of melioidosis risk will make it easier to target the delivery of preventive methods such as chlorination or alternatives to specific water supplies. Preliminary studies in Western Australia suggest that primary prevention of melioidosis may be possible. We need to see how widely those findings apply. It is hoped that this work will lead to a significant reduction in the risk of contracting this disease throughout the endemic region.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2001

End Date: 01-01-2003

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $362,036.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Ophthalmology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

Acute septicaemic melioidosis | Burkholderia pseudomallei | Melioidosis outbreak | Melioidosis risk assessment | Potable water quality | Standard water guideline | Water-borne infection

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