Vol. 1, Issue 2, Part A (2016)

Author(s): Netra B Aswar, Sekar M, Gunaseelan L and Ravikumar G

Abstract: The present study was conducted to detect the carrier status in rodents by conventional and molecular methods in addition to the seroprevalence in rodents was identified by microscopic agglutination test. Rodents were trapped from Madras Veterinary College vicinity and human dwellings of Kattupakkam. Samples were collected under aseptic condition from rodents which consists of serum (30), urine (10) and kidney tissues (30).Urine and serum samples were screened by dark-field microscopy (DFM), out of 10 urine samples 4 (40%) and out of 30 serum samples 10 (33.3%) were found positive. Out of 30 kidney tissue samples 16 (53.3 %) were found positive by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The PCR amplicon size was 243 bp and 462 bp was seen on agarose gel electrophoresis with lep gene and lipl32 gene respectively. The overall seroprevalence of leptospirosis in rodents detected by the presence of Leptospira antibodies in sera by Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) was 56.6 per cent. The major serogroup found was autumnalis followed by grippotyphosa, icterohaemorrhagiae and pomona. Sequencing was carried out for leptospire isolate from rodent kidney sample and found similarity in the sequenced product with other pathogenic serovars. The study concluded that rodents play an important role in transmission of the disease because they are caught from human vicinity so necessary precautions should be taken to avoid major public health risks.