Challenges in determining the pathogenicity status of Leptospira isolates with phenotypic methods: The need for a polyvalent approach
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Date
2010-12-04
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Abstract
Understanding the pathogenic status of leptospires, the causative agents of leptospirosis, is important
for successful laboratory diagnosis and control programmes of this zoonosis. Leptospires are difficult
to differentiate morphologically; therefore, their pathogenic, intermediate or saprophytic status is
currently determined based on both phenotypic tests like growth response in medium containing
8-azaguanine and growth at low temperature (13°C), and genotypic methods. The present study reports
on the pathogenic versus saprophytic characterization of nine Leptospira isolates from animal hosts
(rodents and dogs) and humans, with specific interest on a canine isolate coded “Dog109”, which
showed an ambiguous or intermediate status according to conventional (phenotypic) and molecular
(genotypic) tests. The results strongly indicate the need of a polyvalent analytical approach for
improving the differentiation of the pathogenic status of circulating serovars,
Description
African Journal of Microbiology Research, 2010; 4 (23): 2528-2533
Keywords
Characterization, Isolates, Leptospira, Saprophytic