Burkholderia pseudomallei in soil samples from an oceanarium in Hong Kong detected using a sensitive PCR assay

Figures & data

Figure 1 (A) Detection of B. pseudomallei from soil samples by PCR and culture during the study period and in relation to ambient temperature and rainfall. (B) Monthly number of melioidosis cases in captive animals in the oceanarium between 2002 and 2011. Data showed the cumulative cases in the respective months over a 10-year period (2002-2011).

Table 1 Distribution of B. pseudomallei in different locations of the oceanarium

Area	Number of samples taken	Number of PCR-positive (%)
Lowland	750	35 (4.9%)
Headland	370	20 (5.4%)
Valley	300	41 (13.7%)

Table 2 Seasonal distribution of B. pseudomallei in the oceanarium

	Mean air temperature (°C)	Total rainfall (mm)	PCR-positive (%)	Culture-positive (%)
Jun 2010–Aug 2010 (summer)	28.37	431.54	61 (20.3%)	4 (1.3%)
Sep 2010–Nov 2010 (autumn)	24.67	216.0	6 (2%)	5 (1.7%)
Dec 2010–Feb 2011 (winter)	16	15.84	6 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%
Mar 2011–May 2011 (spring)	22.3	81.07	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)
Jun 2011–Aug 2011 (summer)	28.97	273.34	22 (8.1%)	0 (0.0%)