No abstract available.
Leptospira interrogans* ; Leptospira*

By determining the antibody to leptospira in 411 serum samples collected from slaughter-house workers, cattle breeders, meat sellers, farmers, forest workers and veterinary workers in §¾c L¾c province. Conclusion: risk of occupational leptospirosis is 18.00%+/-1.42%. Cattle breeders and slaughter-house workers have highest incidence. Cattle breeders are 1.12 times more likely than slaughter-house workers, 2.11 times more likely than farmers, 3.31 times more likely than veterinary workers and 3.75 times more likely than students to have this infection
Leptospirosis ; Leptospira

Introduction: Leptospirosis is one of the neglected reemerging zoonoses that is of public health concern globally. The need to discover novel therapeutic alternatives for leptospirosis through screening for and elucidating the mechanism/s of the anti-leptospiral activity of plant extracts is therefore necessary. This study analyzes the optimized tube dilution technique and the BiologTM sole carbon utilization phenotype microarray as screening tool for anti-leptospiral activity of plant extracts. Methods: The suitability of the optimized tube dilution technique was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and motility inhibition property of a plant extract and an antimicrobial control (pen G) against 4 dominantly circulating Leptospira serovars/serogroup in the Philippines. Likewise, the suitability of the BiologTM sole carbon utilization assay was evaluated using a plant extract and selected antimicrobials against L. interrogans serovar Manilae strain K64 and L. interrogans serovar Losbanos strain K37. Results: The MIC, MBC, and motility inhibition property of a plant extract and the antibiotic controls as well as its effect on the carbon utilization phenome of the Leptospira serovars gave consistent results, within and between several runs. With standard deviation = 0 for all serovars. The MIC and MBC of the antimicrobial control (pen G), the positive control, was 10 ug/ml. The growth control (leptospires without treatment), the negative control, showed presence of motile leptospires. The MIC and the MBC of the test plant extract was 250 ug/ml – 500 ug/ml. Results of the carbon utilization phenome or pattern of carbon utilization were consistent within the 3 replicates and between two runs. Conclusion The optimized tube dilution technique and the BiologTM sole carbon utilization assay is a potential in vitro screening tool for determining anti-leptospiral activity of plant extracts.
Leptospira ; Serogroup

No abstract available.
Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Leptospira interrogans* ; Leptospira*

Background and Objective: Leptospirosis is a disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira prevalent in tropical countries like the Philippines. Some studies have shown that the role of currently used antibiotics for leptospirosis is unclear since trials have found no significant benefit to patient outcomes compared to placebo. This signals the need for alternative therapies, such as herbal medicines, which may provide effective therapeutic regimens in treating this infection. In this study, we characterized the antibacterial potential of three Philippine herbal medicines against Leptospira interrogans. Methods: Crude methanolic extracts of Momordica charantia, Cassia alata, and Allium sativum were subjected to an optimized broth microdilution assay against L. interrogans, utilizing the resazurin-resorufin reaction as a cell proliferation and viability indicator. Results: The respective minimum inhibitory concentrations of the plants were found to be as follows: 1.25 mg/mL (M. charantia), 2.5 mg/mL (C. alata), and >5 mg/mL (A. sativum). Conclusions Among the three herbal medicines, M. charantia and C. alata proved to have antibacterial activity against L. interrogans. Given the promising potential of two of these plant extracts, exploring the use of other solvents to extract natural compounds from these plants, and discovering possible synergistic effects between these plants and conventional antibiotics may be worthwhile.
Leptospira interrogans ; Herbal Medicine

In this study, we selected only serologically identified 15 Leptosira interrogans isolates in the past and analyzed and identified them by using molecular method. The partial 16S rDNA and LipL32 genes were amplified from the bacteria by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. Sizes of the PCR products were 529 bp and 819 bp respectively and analysis of the nucleotide sequence of 16S rDNA and LipL32 genes showed that 14 out the 15 Leptospira showed 99.4~100% and 99.2~99.9% similarity respectively to those of L. interrogans lai and one isolate named HS-7 showed 100% and 100% similarity to L. interrogans canicola. The phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rDNA and LipL32 genes obtained the study revealed that 14 of the Leptospira composed a cluster distinct to that of L. interrogans lai and HS-7 composed to L. interrogans canicola.
Bacteria ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Ribosomal* ; Leptospira interrogans ; Leptospira* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Leptospirosis has been known as endemic disease in Korea since 1984. Wild rodent, mostly Apodemus agrarius, has been known as an important source of leptospiral infection especially in rainy circumstances in harvest reason of rural area. The infection rates of Leptospira interrogans in field rodents, Apodemus agrarius, was investigated by culture and PCR detection of leptospiral DNA, and compared with previous data. Furthermore, the serogroup and serovar were investigated. Two hundred twenty two Apodemus agrarius were captured during October to December 1996. Spirohaetes were isolated from 22 (9.9%) and leptospiral DNA was detected in an additional six rodents (12.6%). Subsequent cross-agglutinin absorption test, monoclonal antibody reactivity classified 21 cultures among 22 isolates as Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohemorrhagiae serovar lai. The above data did not differ from previous survey in 1984 to 1987. There was no significant change of Leptospira interrogans infection in field rodents in Korea.
Absorption ; Animals ; DNA ; Endemic Diseases ; Korea* ; Leptospira interrogans* ; Leptospira* ; Leptospirosis ; Murinae ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Rodentia*

BACKGROUND: Many strains of Leptospira interrogans have been isolated in Korea since 1984. Most isolates were identified as serovar lai by serological methods. The pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns of Korean isolates have not been investigated currently. METHODS: 29 reference strains and 29 Korean isolates of Leptospira interrogans were characterized by PFGE. Chromosomes were digested by the Not I restriction enzyme and subsequently PFGE was performed in CHEF-DRII (Bio Rad Lab) with 3 pulse times (30 seconds 13 hours, 60 seconds 13 hours, 120 seconds 14 hours) at 150 V (4.5 V/cm). RESULTS: 12 serogroup reference strains and most 17 serovars reference strains in the serogroup Icterohaemoffhagie showed the unique Not I restriction patterns. Most isolates identified serologically as serovar lai showed the same PFGE patterns as the serovar lai reference strain. The strain HM3 and 18R identified serologically as new serovars yeonchon and hongchon respectively showed the same PFGE patterns as serovar lai. The strain AP31, CH88-19 and NR13 that were different from serovar lai by serological methods showed the PFGE patterns indistinguishable from serovar lai reference strain. The strain HY2 that was identified as serovar lai, and the strain 30R that was different from serovar lai serologically showed the PFGE patterns slightly different from serovar lai reference strain. CONCLUSION: The PFGE profile of most Korean isolates Leptospira interrogans serologically identified as serovar lai is identical to the reference strain serovar lai. PFGE analysis thus may be applied to identify serovar of isolates and to investigate the genetic diversity of related serovar.
DNA* ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field* ; Genetic Variation ; Korea ; Leptospira interrogans* ; Leptospira*

BACKGROUND: Many strains of Leptospira interrogans have been isolated in Korea since 1984. Most isolates were identified as serovar lai by serological methods. The pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns of Korean isolates have not been investigated currently. METHODS: 29 reference strains and 29 Korean isolates of Leptospira interrogans were characterized by PFGE. Chromosomes were digested by the Not I restriction enzyme and subsequently PFGE was performed in CHEF-DRII (Bio Rad Lab) with 3 pulse times (30 seconds 13 hours, 60 seconds 13 hours, 120 seconds 14 hours) at 150 V (4.5 V/cm). RESULTS: 12 serogroup reference strains and most 17 serovars reference strains in the serogroup Icterohaemoffhagie showed the unique Not I restriction patterns. Most isolates identified serologically as serovar lai showed the same PFGE patterns as the serovar lai reference strain. The strain HM3 and 18R identified serologically as new serovars yeonchon and hongchon respectively showed the same PFGE patterns as serovar lai. The strain AP31, CH88-19 and NR13 that were different from serovar lai by serological methods showed the PFGE patterns indistinguishable from serovar lai reference strain. The strain HY2 that was identified as serovar lai, and the strain 30R that was different from serovar lai serologically showed the PFGE patterns slightly different from serovar lai reference strain. CONCLUSION: The PFGE profile of most Korean isolates Leptospira interrogans serologically identified as serovar lai is identical to the reference strain serovar lai. PFGE analysis thus may be applied to identify serovar of isolates and to investigate the genetic diversity of related serovar.
DNA* ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field* ; Genetic Variation ; Korea ; Leptospira interrogans* ; Leptospira*

Leptospira/drug effects ; Leptospirosis/*drug therapy ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests