THE DETECTION OF PATHOGENIC LEPTOSPIRA SPECIES USING A POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION TEST

Abstract

Pathogenic Leptospira species cause leptospirosis in animals and humans. Bacterial culture and the serological identification of leptospires are constrined by being time consuming and labor intensive. Oligonucleotide primers complementary to the 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence of pathogenic leptospires were designed to amplify the 343 bp fragment. The primers were specific to pathogenic Leptospira species and did not amplify either non-pathogenic leptospires or common bacteria found in urine. This developed PCR assay allows
the rapid identification of pathogenic leptospires from rodent urine, with high sensitivity and specificity.