Evaluation of a latex agglutination assay for the identification of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei.
Cases of melioidosis and glanders are rare in the United States, but the etiologic agents of each disease (Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei, respectively) are classified as Tier 1 select agents because of concerns about their potential use as bioterrorism agents. A rapid, highly sensitive, and portable assay for clinical laboratories and field use is required. Our laboratory has further evaluated a latex agglutination assay for its ability to identify B. pseudomallei and B. mallei isolates. This assay uses a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes the capsular polysaccharide produced by B. pseudomallei and B. mallei, but is absent in closely related Burkholderia species. A total of 110 B. pseudomallei and B. mallei were tested, and 36 closely related Burkholderia species. The latex agglutination assay was positive for 109 of 110 (99.1% sensitivity) B. pseudomallei and B. mallei isolates tested.
Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Brea D
BD
Duval
Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Mindy G
MG
Elrod
Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Jay E
JE
Gee
Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Narisara
N
Chantratita
Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Sarunporn
S
Tandhavanant
Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Direk
D
Limmathurotsakul
Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand amh9@cdc.gov.
Alex R
AR
Hoffmaster
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D042726:Burkholderia mallei / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005896:Glanders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000379:methods; D008554:Melioidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial