What is glanders?

Glanders is an infectious and life-threatening disease that mainly affects horses, donkeys or mules caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei. Glanders can be transmitted to humans. Susceptibility to glanders has also been demonstrated in camels, felines living in the wild, bears, wolves and dogs. Carnivores may become infected by eating infected meat. Guinea pigs and hamsters are highly susceptible.

The infection is generally fatal.

The incubation period varies from a few days to many months depending on the

intensity of exposure.

Glanders has been recognised since antiquity. Hippocrates considered it to be a serious disease of equidae. The disease principally affected the cavalry and was a major zoonotic threat for veterinarians and stable hands. The worldwide prevalence of glanders has been considerably reduced through the actions of the Veterinary Services and national control programmes.

Glanders is an OIE-Iisted disease as described in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). As indicated in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code any occurrence of glanders must be notifi ed to the OIE.

 

Source: The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)