Rapid Leptospira identification by direct sequencing of the diagnostic PCR products in New Caledonia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Most of the current knowledge of leptospirosis epidemiology originates from serological results obtained with the reference Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT). However, inconsistencies and weaknesses of this diagnostic technique are evident. A growing use of PCR has improved the early diagnosis of leptospirosis but a drawback is that it cannot provide information on the infecting Leptospira strain which provides important epidemiologic data. Our work is aimed at evaluating if the sequence polymorphism of diagnostic PCR products could be used to identify the infecting Leptospira strains in the New Caledonian environment.

Results

Both the lfb1 and secY diagnostic PCR products displayed a sequence polymorphism that could prove useful in presumptively identifying th

SUBMITTER: Perez J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3022709 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature