<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Introduction: Leptospirosis affects a wide range of mammals, humans, and even a few poikilothermic animal species. In Pakistan, serological studies of equine leptospirosis have reported a prevalence of over 40%, but no study has ever been conducted towards molecular detection of Leptospira in horses. Material and Methods: Blood samples from 128 horses were screened using ELISA and 41 positive samples were examined for the presence of leptospiral DNA using specific primers for 16S rRNA gene. Results: Out of 41 tested samples, 20 samples were found to be PCR-positive, revealing a fragment of 306 bp after gel electrophoresis. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of positive samples revealed circulation of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in Pakistani horses. No evidence of circulation of intermediate species was found in this study. Conclusion: This study reports the first molecular evidence of equine leptospirosis in Pakistan and lays ground for further research in this area. It also confirms the efficiency of 16S rRNA for the diagnosis of equine leptospirosis.</p></abstract>

Introduction: Leptospirosis affects a wide range of mammals, humans, and even a few poikilothermic animal species. In Pakistan, serological studies of equine leptospirosis have reported a prevalence of over 40%, but no study has ever been conducted towards molecular detection of Leptospira in horses. Material and Methods: Blood samples from 128 horses were screened using ELISA and 41 positive samples were examined for the presence of leptospiral DNA using specific primers for 16S rRNA gene. Results: Out of 41 tested samples, 20 samples were found to be PCR-positive, revealing a fragment of 306 bp after gel electrophoresis. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of positive samples revealed circulation of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in Pakistani horses. No evidence of circulation of intermediate species was found in this study. Conclusion: This study reports the first molecular evidence of equine leptospirosis in Pakistan and lays ground for further research in this area. It also confirms the efficiency of 16S rRNA for the diagnosis of equine leptospirosis.

Molecular characterisation of Leptospira strains in Pakistan

Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 54000 Lahore,

Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 54000 Lahore,

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 54000 Lahore,

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Molecular characterisation of Leptospira strains in Pakistan"}

Introduction: Leptospirosis affects a wide range of mammals, humans, and even a few poikilothermic animal species. In Pakistan, serological studies of equine...

Molecular characterisation of Leptospira strains in Pakistan

Published Online: Dec 17, 2016

Page range: 417 - 421

Received: May 25, 2016

Accepted: Nov 07, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jvetres-2016-0062

Keywords
horses, Leptospira interrogans, 16S rRNA, Pakistan

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Molecular characterisation of Leptospira strains in Pakistan

Published Online: Dec 17, 2016

Page range: 417 - 421

Received: May 25, 2016

Accepted: Nov 07, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jvetres-2016-0062

Keywordshorses, Leptospira interrogans, 16S rRNA, Pakistan

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
horses, Leptospira interrogans, 16S rRNA, Pakistan