Differentiation of pathogenic and non-pathogenic leptospires by means of the polymerase chain reaction

Author(s): PARMA Alberto E., SEIJO Alfredo, LUCCHESI Paula M., DEODATO Bettina, SANZ Marcelo E.
Keywords: Polymerase chain reaction, Leptospira biflexa, L. interrogans
Journal: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
Year: 1997
Full text: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0036-46651997000400004
Publisher: Instituto de Medicina Tropical
Abstract: A polymerase chain reaction was carried out to detect pathogenic leptospires isolated from animals and humans in Argentina. A double set of primers (G1/G2, B64-I/B64-II), described before, were used to amplify by PCR a DNA fragment from serogroups belonging to Leptospira interrogans but did not allow to detect saprophytic strains isolated from soil and water (L. biflexa). This fact represents an advantage since it makes possible the differentiation of pathogenic from non-pathogenic leptospires in cultures. The sensitivity of this assay has been determined, allowing to detect just only 10 leptospires in the reaction tube. Those sets of primers generated either a 285 bp or 360 bp fragment, depending on the pathogenic strain