Glanders

Glanders is a contagious disease caused by Burkholderia mallei, a gram negative, non-motile, non-encapsulated and non-spore forming bacillus in the bacterial family Burkholderiaceae. It has been recognized for millennia as a disease of equidae and humans.

The disease has been eradicated in North America, Australia and Europe through import control measures coupled with testing and elimination of any infected animals. However, Glanders continues to be present in a number of Asian, African, Middle Eastern, and South American countries.