Rapid <it>Leptospira </it>identification by direct sequencing of the diagnostic PCR products in New Caledonia

• Main Authors: Goarant Cyrille, Perez Julie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2010-12-01
• Series: BMC Microbiology
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/10/325

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>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 <it>Leptospira </it>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 <it>Leptospira </it>strains in the New Caledonian environment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both the <it>lfb1 </it>and <it>secY </it>diagnostic PCR products displayed a sequence polymorphism that could prove useful in presumptively identifying the infecting leptospire. Using both this polymorphism and MLST results with New Caledonian isolates and clinical samples, we confirmed the epidemiological relevance of the sequence-based identification of <it>Leptospira </it>strains. Additionally, we identified one cluster of <it>L. interrogans </it>that contained no reference strain and one cluster of <it>L. borgpetersenii </it>found only in the introduced Rusa deer <it>Cervus timorensis russa </it>that is its probable reservoir.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The sequence polymorphism of diagnostic PCR products proved useful in presumptively identifying the infecting <it>Leptospira </it>strains. This could contribute to a better understanding of leptospirosis epidemiology by providing epidemiological information that cannot be directly attained from the use of PCR as an early diagnostic test for leptospirosis.</p>