Melioidosis in a Goat in New Caledonia. Detection of Melioidosis in a Goat in New Caledonia, 40 years after the Last Reported Animal Case

During laboratory investigations conducted in New Caledonia, a strain of B. pseudomallei was isolated from a goat. The strain was characterized using both MLST and WGS techniques and found to cluster with previously described local strains. Simultaneously, several serological tests were conducted on the farm where the goat originated, as well as on three other neighboring farms. While only seropositive animals were identified in the farm from which the goat originated using two commercial ELISA kits tested, other tests based on recombinant proteins confirmed the usefulness of the Hcp1 protein as an antigen of interest for the diagnosis of melioidosis. This is the first animal case of melioidosis reported in New Caledonia in over 40 years, despite human cases being regularly reported. These results confirm the presence of the bacterium in the region, highlighting the importance of vigilance in both human and animal health. It is crucial that all partners in animal health, including breeders, veterinarians, and biologists, work together to monitor and prevent the spread of the disease.