Isolation of Burkholderia pseudomallei from a Pet Green Iguana, Belgium

Tom Hellebuyck
Pierre Wattiau
Filip Boyen
Ilse Moeremans
Nancy H. Roosens
Kevin Vanneste
An Garmyn
Veronique Saey
Frank Pasmans
Freddy Haesebrouck

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Publication date

December 2018

DOI

10.3201/eid2412.171661

Publisher

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Journal

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Abstract

We isolated Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, from liver granulomas of a pet green iguana (Iguana iguana) in Belgium. This case highlights a risk for imported green iguanas acting as a reservoir for introduction of this high-threat, zoonotic pathogen into nonendemic regions