Knowledge, awareness and perception about equine glanders among veterinarians and medical professionals in India.
Authors: Raj Ana, Pathak Anubha, Karuppusamy Shanmugasundaram, Tripathi Bhupendra Nath, Tripathi Hema, Singha Harisankar
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Equine Glanders Knowledge Gap in India Burkholderia mallei (equine glanders) has resurged across 14 Indian states since 2006, creating a dual threat to equine and human health, yet significant knowledge gaps persist amongst the veterinary professionals responsible for disease control and zoonotic prevention. A cross-sectional survey of 165 veterinarians, para-veterinarians and physicians across 11 states and one union territory revealed critical deficiencies: 40.3% lacked awareness of government regulations governing glanders management, whilst 22% misunderstood transmission pathways—particularly concerning given the disease's zoonotic potential and high contact transmission risk. In practical response scenarios, only 39.4% of respondents would appropriately collect biological samples for confirmation, 40.6% would notify authorities, and 64.2% would cull infected animals, suggesting inconsistent protocol adherence across the profession. Beyond technical knowledge, systemic barriers emerged as equally problematic: 68.4% of participants observed that equine keepers actively concealed clinical signs, whilst veterinary professionals themselves cited inadequate supervision (33.9%), financial constraints (31%), administrative obstacles (28.4%) and technical limitations (27.8%) as barriers to effective disease reporting and control. These findings underscore an urgent need for mandatory training programmes on glanders legislation and epidemiology, coupled with improved intersectoral coordination between veterinary and public health authorities to strengthen India's eradication efforts and mitigate zoonotic transmission risk.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Ensure your knowledge of local and national glanders regulations is current—significant knowledge gaps exist among veterinary professionals in endemic areas
- •Understand transmission pathways and implement appropriate biosafety protocols when handling suspected glanders cases to protect yourself and staff
- •Recognize that owner cooperation is often the bottleneck in disease reporting; education and trust-building with equine keepers is critical for early detection and control
Key Findings
- •40.3% of surveyed veterinarians and medical professionals were unaware of government regulations for glanders management
- •22% of respondents lacked knowledge about glanders transmission mechanisms
- •Only 39.4% of participants would correctly collect biological samples for laboratory confirmation of glanders
- •68.4% of respondents identified equine keeper reluctance to disclose clinical symptoms as a major obstacle to disease eradication