Prevalence and Distribution of Soil-Borne Bacillus anthracis in Different Districts of Punjab, Pakistan

**Haroon Rashid^1,*, Khushi Muhammad¹, Masood Rabbani¹, Muhammad Sarwar Khan¹, Tasleem Ghori², Mamoona Chaudhry³, Hamad Bin Rashid², Muhamm**

Author Affiliations

¹Department of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore

²Department of Clinical Medicine & Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore

³Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore

⁴Department of Geography, The Punjab University, Lahore

⁵Department of Pathobiology, University College Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur

⁶Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Agricultural Sciences, PennState University, USA

* Corresponding author: haroon.rashid@iub.edu.pk

ABSTRACT

A multidisciplinary collaborative project was conducted to study the prevalence and distribution of soil-borne B. anthracis in Punjab Province, Pakistan and to ascertain its public health significance. Using a grid-based sampling strategy, soil samples (n=1985) were collected from villages (n = 397, 5 samples/village) and examined for Bacillus anthracis, using real time PCR assays. Soil samples were found positive for plasmid DNA of Bacillus anthracis (CapB) in 3 villages (n= 3/1985, 0.15%), whereas plasmid DNA of Bacillus anthracis (PA) was detected in soil samples of 4 villages, (n=4/1985, 0.20%). The odds of detecting plasmid DNA of B. anthracis (CapB) in Attock district were based on, distance from animal market which is not associated with presence of Cap B i.e. 1.217 (0.1087, 13.63), distance from main road 0.8373 (0.07478, 9.376), number of households in the village 0.902 (0.08044, 10.11). The odds of plasmid DNA of B. anthracis (PA) in Attock was not associated in distance from animal market 0.3043 (0.02718, 3.408), distance from the main road 0.8373 (0.07478, 9.376), distance from water source 0.5882 (0.05258, 6.581), number of household in village 0.2255 (0.02011, 2.528) in Chakwal only one sample was found positive, while in the Faisalabad, Sahiwal. In Gujranwala, D.G. Khan and Sargodha, no positive sample was detected. The odds of (PA) in Chakwal District pathogen B. anthracis PA plasmid positive sample shows no association with distance from Animal Market, distance from road, distance from drainage, not subjected to human population, and for distance animal density because only one sample was found positive others districts (Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Faisalabad and D.G Khan) showed no association.

To share on other social networks, click on P-share. What are these?

Pakistan Journal of Zoology

A New Species of the Genus Otacilia

Colour and Distributional Pattern of Callaspidia notata (Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1832) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Aspicerinae) from Pakistan

Prevalence and Distribution of Soil-Borne Bacillus anthracis in Different Districts of Punjab, Pakistan

Special Issues

Membership/Association