Identification of Burkholderia pseudomallei in the environment of patients with melioidosis in Tamil Nadu, India

Environmental surveillance of Burkholderia pseudomallei in India is limited, with sparse data from non-coastal regions. This study aimed to detect B. pseudomallei in soil collected near the residences of culture-confirmed melioidosis patients in southern India using molecular methods. A total of 50 soil samples were collected from a depth of 30 cm around the homes of five melioidosis patients in Sivagangai district, Tamil Nadu. Soil DNA was extracted and analyzed using conventional PCR targeting the TTS1 gene cluster of B. pseudomallei. Two(4 %) of 50 soil samples tested were positive for B. pseudomallei by PCR.