ABSTRACT
DNA extracted from the kidneys of rodents captured in different urban areas of Palermo, Italy, had been analysed for the presence of pathogenic L. interrogans sensu latu DNA. PCR analysis had shown that in rodents captured close to green areas and small river up to 40 % animals give positive PCR results. Not many cases of human leptospirosis are reported in Sicilian island in which hot season is usually dry. But considering climate change toward subtropical aspect in Sicily, with hot humid summer and sudden thunderstorm, screening for L. interrogans sensu latu prevalence can be useful for leptospirosis risk analysis on human population.
Subject(s)
Animal Distribution , Animals, Wild/microbiology , Disease Reservoirs , Disease Vectors , Leptospira interrogans/isolation & purification , Leptospirosis/veterinary , Mice/microbiology , Rats/microbiology , Rodent Diseases/epidemiology , Urban Health , Animals , Climate Change , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/isolation & purification , Ecosystem , Humans , Kidney/microbiology , Leptospira interrogans/genetics , Leptospirosis/epidemiology , Leptospirosis/microbiology , Polymerase Chain Reaction , RNA, Bacterial/genetics , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Risk , Rodent Diseases/microbiology , Sicily/epidemiology , ZoonosesABSTRACT
We set a method targeting 16 rRNA gene consisting in a single polymerase chain reaction of 40 cycles which is specific for pathogenic leptospira. Negative polymerase chain reaction results were observed with nonpathogenic Leptospira (serovar patoc) and other bacteria species. By this method a survey on a population of autochthon swine herds had been conducted in Sicily particularly on kidney samples of slaughtered animals and on urine samples from live animals. The analysis showed that a prevalence of leptospira up to 40 % can be observed on these animals. Results on other bovine and ovine herds from the same province in Sicily showed a lower prevalence.
Subject(s)
Cattle Diseases/diagnosis , DNA, Bacterial/analysis , Leptospira/genetics , Leptospirosis/veterinary , Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary , Sheep Diseases/diagnosis , Swine Diseases/diagnosis , Agglutination Tests , Animals , Cattle , Cattle Diseases/epidemiology , Data Collection , Italy , Leptospira/isolation & purification , Leptospira/pathogenicity , Leptospirosis/diagnosis , Leptospirosis/epidemiology , Leptospirosis/microbiology , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Prevalence , Sheep , Sheep Diseases/epidemiology , Swine , Swine Diseases/epidemiologyABSTRACT
It was carried out a comparison on two reference Leptospira strains DNA between different extraction methods and two polymerase chain reaction protocol. The DNA was quantified and serial dilutions were tested by polymerase chain reaction. The results showed difference in terms of recovery and sensitivity between this methods.