Detection of Antibody to Burkholderia pseudomallei in Captive and Wild Macaques

Melioidosis is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by the saprophytic Burkholderia pseudomallei, which infects human and various range of animal species. Septicaemia and pneumonia in human patients often lead to death when the patient is not treated. The disease is spread in tropical areas, especially in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia, but in Indonesia the cases are poorly reported. This research provides serological evidence of antibodies to B. pseudomallei in both captive and wild nonhuman primates captured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma samples were taken from a total of 390 monkeys both in captivities and in wild habitat. The seroprevalence varies from 11%-80% . The findings showed that infection by B. pseudomallei in both captive and wild macaques has reached an alarming level and requires further studies.