Diversity of Leptospira spp. in Rats and Environment from Urban Areas of Sarawak, Malaysia. (28th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pui, Chai Fung; Bilung, Lesley Maurice; Apun, Kasing; Su'ut, Lela
• Other Names: Gonzalez Jean-Paul J. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of tropical medicine. Volume 2017(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-02-28
• Subjects: Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; 616.9883
• DOI: 10.1155/2017/3760674
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-9686

Abstract

Abstract : Various prevalence studies on Leptospira in animals and humans, as well as environmental samples, had been conducted worldwide, including Malaysia. However, limited studies have been documented on the presence of pathogenic, intermediate, and saprophytic Leptospira in selected animals and environments. This study was therefore conducted to detect Leptospira spp. in rats, soil, and water from urban areas of Sarawak using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. A total of 107 rats, 292 soil samples, and 324 water samples were collected from April 2014 to February 2015. Pathogenic Leptospira was present in 5.6% (6/107) of rats, 11.6% (34/292) of soil samples, and 1.9% (6/324) of water samples. Intermediate Leptospira was present in 2.7% (8/292) of soil samples and 1.9% (6/324) of water samples. Saprophytic Leptospira was present in 10.3% (11/107) of rats, 1.4% (4/292) of soil samples, and 0.3% (1/324) of water samples. From this study, 76 Leptospira spp. were isolated. Based on DNA sequencing, the dominant Leptospira spp. circulating in urban areas of Sarawak are pathogenic Leptospira noguchii, intermediate Leptospira wolffii serovar Khorat, and saprophytic Leptospira meyeri, respectively. Overall, this study provided important surveillance data on the prevalence of Leptospira spp. from rats and the environment, with dominant local serovars in urban areas of Sarawak.