A researcher at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has detected the bacterium Burkholderia cepacia complex in Black Bengal goats for the first time in Bangladesh, raising new questions for research into animal health and potential risks to humans.

Prof Dr Md Siddiqur Rahman of BAU’s Department of Medicine made the detection. The bacterium can survive in soil, water, plants and various animals, while some species can cause serious infections in humans.

Researchers said infection may cause abortion and infections in different organs in goats. In humans, the bacterium may cause chronic lung infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems.

Although the bacterium has previously been detected in horses, dogs, cats, birds, sheep and other animals in different countries, its presence in goats has not been reported in Bangladesh before.

Prof Siddiqur Rahman said the finding opens new avenues for research into animal health and the One Health approach, which recognises the links between human, animal and environmental health.

He described the bacterium as opportunistic, explaining that infection may become apparent when animals’ immunity is weakened by stress. However, the study found no evidence of transmission from goats to humans, and further advanced research is needed to establish whether such transmission occurs.

The researcher advised farmers to strengthen biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of infection and outbreaks. He recommended isolating infected animals, maintaining clean farm environments, providing nutritious feed and ensuring timely vaccination.