Isolation and molecular characterization of leptospira interrogans and leptospira borgpetersenii isolates from the urban rat populations of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Benacer, D. and Siti NurSheena, M.Z. and Fairuz, A. and Galloway, R.L. and Thong, Kwai Lin (2013) Isolation and molecular characterization of leptospira interrogans and leptospira borgpetersenii isolates from the urban rat populations of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira borgpetersenii Isolates from the Urban Rat Populations of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 88 (4). pp. 704-709. DOI https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.12-0662.

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Abstract

Rats are considered the principal maintenance hosts of Leptospira. The objectives of this study were isolation and identification of Leptospira serovars circulating among urban rat populations in Kuala Lumpur. Three hundred urban rats (73% Rattus rattus and 27% R. norvegicus) from three different sites were trapped. Twenty cultures were positive for Leptospira using dark-field microscopy. R. rattus was the dominant carrier (70%). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed that all isolates were pathogenic Leptospira species. Two Leptospira serogroups, Javanica and Bataviae, were identified using microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) identified two serovars in the urban rat populations: L. borgpetersenii serovar Javanica (85%) and L. interrogans serovar Bataviae (15%). We conclude that these two serovars are the major serovars circulating among the urban rat populations in Kuala Lumpur. Despite the low infection rate reported, the high pathogenicity of these serovars raises concern of public health risks caused by rodent transmission of leptospirosis.

Item Type:	Article
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information:	Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Leptospira interrogans; Leptospira borgpetersenii isolates; Biological Sciences; Rats
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) R Medicine > RB Pathology > General works
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Institute of Biological Sciences
Depositing User:	Prof. Dr Kwai Lin Thong
Date Deposited:	04 Dec 2014 06:41
Last Modified:	15 Oct 2018 05:15
URI:	http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/9965

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