Laboratory maintenance of pathogenic Leptospira.

Analysis of Leptospira requires use of specialized media for growth, maintenance, and storage of viable bacteria that can be used in experimental protocols in a predictable manner. However, pathogenic Leptospira are fastidious bacteria with unusual nutritional requirements. These problems make primary isolation, routine propagation, and storage of Leptospira difficult. Defined and complex media are available for routine growth of pathogenic Leptospira, and each medium has unique characteristics that favor the growth or isolation of some strains, while not supporting the growth of others. This unit will describe the preparation of Leptospira media and methods for isolation and storage of these bacteria.