title: Prevalence and distribution of soil-borne zoonotic pathogens in Lahore district of Pakistan.
abstract: A multidisciplinary, collaborative project was conducted to determine the prevalence and distribution of soil-borne zoonotic pathogens in Lahore district of Pakistan and ascertain its Public Health Significance. Using a grid-based sampling strategy, soil samples (n = 145) were collected from villages (n = 29, 5 samples/village) and examined for Bacillus anthracis, Burkholderia mallei/pseudomallei, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, and Yersinia pestis using real time PCR assays. Chemical analysis of soil samples was also performed on these samples. The relationship between soil composition and absence or presence of the pathogen, and seven risk factors was evaluated. DNA of B. anthracis (CapB), B. mallei/pseudomallei (chromosomal gene), C. burnetii (IS1111, transposase gene), and F. tularensis (lipoprotein/outer membrane protein) was detected in 9.6, 1.4, 4.8, and 13.1% of soil samples, respectively. None of the samples were positive for protective antigen plasmid (PA) of B. anthracis and Y. pestis (plasminogen activating factor, pPla gene). The prevalence of B. anthracis (CapB) was found to be associated with organic matter, magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), sodium (Na), ferrous (Fe), calcium (Ca), and potassium (K). Phosphorous (P) was found to be associated with prevalence of F. tularensis while it were Mg, Co, Na, Fe, Ca, and K for C. burnetii. The odds of detecting DNA of F. tularensis were 2.7, 4.1, and 2.7 higher when soil sample sites were >1 km from animal markets, >500 m from vehicular traffic roads and animal density of < 1000 animals, respectively. While the odds of detecting DNA of C. burnetii was 32, 11.8, and 5.9 higher when soil sample sites were >500 m from vehicular traffic roads, presence of ground cover and animal density of < 1000 animals, respectively. In conclusion, the distribution pattern of the soil-borne pathogens in and around the areas of Lahore district puts both human and animal populations at a high risk of exposure. Further studies are needed to explore the genetic nature and molecular diversity of prevailing pathogens together with their seroconversion in animals and humans.
authors.affiliation: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Shabbir
authors.affiliation: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tariq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jamil
authors.affiliation: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Asad A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Arfan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naeem
authors.affiliation: University of the Punjab Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.affiliation: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilal
authors.affiliation: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Khushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.affiliation: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yaqub
authors.affiliation: Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Asghari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bano
authors.affiliation: Government College University Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ali I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Mirza
authors.affiliation: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad A B
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shabbir
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Walter R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: McVey
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Unit Frederick, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Ketan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Unit Frederick, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Francesconi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Bhushan M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Jayarao
authors.affiliation: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabbani
keywords: Bacillus anthracis; Burkholderia mallei/pseudomallei; Coxiella burnetii; Francisella tularensis; Yersinia pestis; risk factors; soil chemistry