Comparison between real-time PCR, serology and cultura in leptospirosis from samples of wild animals trapped in Buenos Aires province.

EXEQUIEL SCIALFA; MARIANA RECAVARREN; SILVINA QUINTANA; SERGIO GIAMPERETTI

Rev Arg Zoonosis y Enf Infecc Emerg

Asociación Argentina de Zoonosis: Registro de Propiedad Privada DNDA 5083300.

Lugar: CABA. Argentina, ; Año: 2015 vol. 10 p. 24 - 28

The definitive diagnostic test for leptospirosis is the recovery of leptospires from the culture of clinical samples. The micro- agglutination test (MAT) which has high sensitivity and specificity, is a reference standard test for serum diagnostic. The advent of molecular methods has facilitated the diagnosis of leptospirosis by PCR reaction. The aim of this study was to compare the results obtained by using bacteriology (culture), serology and molecular biology, from samples of wild animals. The 8.8% of positive samples was obtained by MAT (two R. norvegicus and L. griseus positives). Kidneys from all animals were cultured, and two isolate (2/34) of L. interrogans from R. norvegicus was obtained (6.9%). Serum sample was studied by real-time PCR and 17/34 was positive (50 %). Isolation of leptospires from clinical samples is strong evidence to confirm the diagnosis in order to identify the serotypes circulating in a particular geographic region, and in turn be used as antigens in MAT. In real-time PCR from serum samples time, proved to have high sensitivity, being an important tool for the diagnosis of leptospirosis, especially in acute cases of disease, in which the other techniques often provide negative results.Keywords: wild animal?s leptospirosis, culture, microscopic agglutination test, real-time PCR.