Detection of all serogroups of pathogenic leptospires epidemic by PCR

  Objective   To develop a polymerase chain reaction(PCR)for specifically detecting all serogroups of leptospira interrogans epidemic in China.

  Methods   A pair of species-specific primers were designed from an 23s rDNA sequence of leptospira interrogans from Genbank.After the primers were identified they were specific and universal by Blast, 18 serogroups of Leptospira interrogans and other pathohens or microbes were detected by PCR.Its sensitivity and specifity were tested.The different sample preparating method was developed, and sera and water samples were tested.

  Results   A specific amplification product with 482 bp length which could be found from eighteen serogroups of leptospira interrogans by PCR, and agarose gel electrophoresis was demonstrated to have a sensitivity of detecting DNAs of eight L.Interrogans.None of DNA amplification products was found from other microbes.

  Conclusion   PCR was a rapid, specific and sensitive and universal method for detecting leptospira in the epidemic regions.