Physicochemical Properties Influencing Presence of <i>Burkholderia pseudomallei</i> in Soil from Small Ruminant Farms in Peninsular Malaysia

<div><p>Soil is considered to be a major reservoir of <i>Burkholderia pseudomallei</i> in the environment. This paper investigates soil physicochemical properties that may influence presence of <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i> in soil samples from small ruminant farms in Peninsular Malaysia. Soil samples were collected from the farms and cultured for <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i>. The texture, organic matter and water contents, pH, elemental contents, cation exchange capacities, carbon, sulfur and nitrogen contents were determined. Analysis of soil samples that were positive and negative for <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i> using multivariable logistic regression found that the odds of bacterial isolation from soil was significantly higher for samples with higher contents of iron (OR = 1.01, 95%CI = 1.00–1.02, p = 0.03), water (OR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.05–1.55, p = 0.01) and clay (OR = 1.54, 95%CI = 1.15–2.06, p = 0.004) compared to the odds of isolation in samples with lower contents of the above variables. These three factors may have favored the survival of <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i> because iron regulates expression of respiratory enzymes, while water is essential for soil ecology and agent’s biological processes and clay retains water and nutrients.</p>