Rats: Leptospirosis Reservoir in Serdang Selangor Residential Area

摘要

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used for detection of the Leptospira interrogans gene in kidney tissue from 32 rats trapped from Serdang, Selangor Malaysia residential area in an attempt to determine a possibility rats as a reservoir of leptospirosis. Primer G1 and G2 derived from genomic DNA libraries of Leptospira interrogans enable the amplification of target DNA fragment from pathogenic leptospires. Positive PCR result was detected in kidney sample of one rat. Serum samples were examined for the presence of leptospiral infection by microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Serological study showed that all serum samples were negative to leptospiral antibody. The cultures of blood and kidney samples were also negative to Leptospira. Present study showed that PCR method was more sensitive in detection of Leptospira compared to culture method. The findings suggest that rats still a potential reservoir for leptospirosis and play an important role in spreading of the disease.