Detection and molecular characterization of leptospira spp. from environmental samples in Kelantan

Leptospirosis is an important worldwide zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic leptospires. In Malaysia, Leptospira spp. have been detected in humans, livestock, environmental samples and rodents. Saprophytic species was usually associated with the environment. However, a novel pathogenic species, Le...

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Main Author: Azali, Muhammad Azharuddin
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2015
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Online Access:http://eprints.usm.my/39984/1/Dr.__Muhammad_Azharuddin_Azali-24_pages.pdf
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spelling my-usm-ep.399842019-04-12T05:25:41Z Detection and molecular characterization of leptospira spp. from environmental samples in Kelantan 2015-08 Azali, Muhammad Azharuddin RA643-645 Disease (Communicable and noninfectious) and public health Leptospirosis is an important worldwide zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic leptospires. In Malaysia, Leptospira spp. have been detected in humans, livestock, environmental samples and rodents. Saprophytic species was usually associated with the environment. However, a novel pathogenic species, Leptospira kmetyi has been isolated from the soil in Malaysia. Therefore, the aim of this study is to isolate Leptospira spp. from the soil and water in selected environment, to detect the pathogenic isolates and to determine their genetic relationship. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Soil and water samples were collected from well known markets and recreational areas in Kelantan. All samples were filtered and inoculated into modified Ellinghausen and McCullough medium supplemented with additional 5-fluorouracil. The cultures were incubated at 30°C for 30 days and examined under dark field microscope. Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) was performed to determine the serovar of the positive cultures. Positive cultures were then subjected to PCR using G1/G2, B64-I/B64-II and Sapro1/Sapro2 primers. The presence of virulence gene lipL32 was also determined. Partial sequences of 16S rRNA gene of the isolates were obtained for molecular identification of the isolates. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out to determine the genetic relatedness among isolates. A total of 144 samples comprised of water (market, n=36; recreational area, n=36) and soil (market, n=36; recreational area, n=36) were collected. Based on darkfield microscopic observations, 10% water and 36% soil cultures were positive for Leptospira spp. All isolates were negative for the hyperimmune sera tested in MAT. A total of 18 out of 33 cultures gave positive PCR assay results using G1/G2 and B64-I/B64-II primers. LipL32 gene was not detected in all of the isolates. 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that 31 out of 33 isolates were identified as Leptospira spp. There were one pathogenic species, Leptospira alstonii and eight intermediate species, L. wolffii (n=7), and L. licerasiae (n=1). Twenty two isolates were identified as nonpathogenic species, L. meyeri. The remaining two isolates were identified as species from other closely related genus, Leptonema illini. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the leptopsiral isolates were clearly separated to form three major clades namely pathogenic, intermediate and nonpathogenic clades. In conclusion, only one pathogenic leptospires, L. alstonii was isolated from environment in selected areas in Malaysia. The remaining isolates were intermediate and saprophytic groups. All isolates were found not to contain one of the highly conserve putative leptospiral virulence gene LipL32. 2015-08 Thesis http://eprints.usm.my/39984/ http://eprints.usm.my/39984/1/Dr.__Muhammad_Azharuddin_Azali-24_pages.pdf application/pdf en public masters Universiti Sains Malaysia Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan
institution Universiti Sains Malaysia
collection USM Institutional Repository
language English
topic RA643-645 Disease (Communicable and noninfectious) and public health
spellingShingle RA643-645 Disease (Communicable and noninfectious) and public health
Azali, Muhammad Azharuddin
Detection and molecular characterization of leptospira spp. from environmental samples in Kelantan
description Leptospirosis is an important worldwide zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic leptospires. In Malaysia, Leptospira spp. have been detected in humans, livestock, environmental samples and rodents. Saprophytic species was usually associated with the environment. However, a novel pathogenic species, Leptospira kmetyi has been isolated from the soil in Malaysia. Therefore, the aim of this study is to isolate Leptospira spp. from the soil and water in selected environment, to detect the pathogenic isolates and to determine their genetic relationship. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Soil and water samples were collected from well known markets and recreational areas in Kelantan. All samples were filtered and inoculated into modified Ellinghausen and McCullough medium supplemented with additional 5-fluorouracil. The cultures were incubated at 30°C for 30 days and examined under dark field microscope. Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) was performed to determine the serovar of the positive cultures. Positive cultures were then subjected to PCR using G1/G2, B64-I/B64-II and Sapro1/Sapro2 primers. The presence of virulence gene lipL32 was also determined. Partial sequences of 16S rRNA gene of the isolates were obtained for molecular identification of the isolates. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out to determine the genetic relatedness among isolates. A total of 144 samples comprised of water (market, n=36; recreational area, n=36) and soil (market, n=36; recreational area, n=36) were collected. Based on darkfield microscopic observations, 10% water and 36% soil cultures were positive for Leptospira spp. All isolates were negative for the hyperimmune sera tested in MAT. A total of 18 out of 33 cultures gave positive PCR assay results using G1/G2 and B64-I/B64-II primers. LipL32 gene was not detected in all of the isolates. 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that 31 out of 33 isolates were identified as Leptospira spp. There were one pathogenic species, Leptospira alstonii and eight intermediate species, L. wolffii (n=7), and L. licerasiae (n=1). Twenty two isolates were identified as nonpathogenic species, L. meyeri. The remaining two isolates were identified as species from other closely related genus, Leptonema illini. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the leptopsiral isolates were clearly separated to form three major clades namely pathogenic, intermediate and nonpathogenic clades. In conclusion, only one pathogenic leptospires, L. alstonii was isolated from environment in selected areas in Malaysia. The remaining isolates were intermediate and saprophytic groups. All isolates were found not to contain one of the highly conserve putative leptospiral virulence gene LipL32.
format Thesis
qualification_level Master's degree
author Azali, Muhammad Azharuddin
author_facet Azali, Muhammad Azharuddin
author_sort Azali, Muhammad Azharuddin
title Detection and molecular characterization of leptospira spp. from environmental samples in Kelantan
title_short Detection and molecular characterization of leptospira spp. from environmental samples in Kelantan
title_full Detection and molecular characterization of leptospira spp. from environmental samples in Kelantan
title_fullStr Detection and molecular characterization of leptospira spp. from environmental samples in Kelantan
title_full_unstemmed Detection and molecular characterization of leptospira spp. from environmental samples in Kelantan
title_sort detection and molecular characterization of leptospira spp. from environmental samples in kelantan
granting_institution Universiti Sains Malaysia
granting_department Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan
publishDate 2015
url http://eprints.usm.my/39984/1/Dr.__Muhammad_Azharuddin_Azali-24_pages.pdf
_version_ 1747820779956862976