Melioidosis was first diagnosed in Australia in sheep in 1949. While considered endemic in tropical Australia, there have been animal outbreaks from imported infection in southwest Western Australia and southern Queensland.
Infection occurs in many species, with both latency and a wide range of clinical manifestations.
Some species may develop melioidosis only if immunocompromised. Asymptomatic organ abscesses are common in pigs but bovine melioidosis is very rare. Camels moved north and an alpaca brought to Darwin have died from melioidosis. It also occurs in wildlife, including birds, crocodiles and kangaroos. Zoonotic transmission to humans is extremely unusual, but there are many similar epidemiological and clinical features of melioidosis in animals and humans.