[A molecular epidemiological investigation on Leptospira interrogans serovar hebdomadis and australia in China].

OBJECTIVE

In order to confirm whether cattle serve the source of infection for patients with Leptospira interrogans serovar hebdomadis and australia.

METHODS

12 field strains of leptospira interrogans serovar hebdomadis and australia were isolated from blood samples of patients with leptospirosis and farm cattle urine. An analysis of chromosome DNA restriction endonuclease patterns (REP) and restriction fragments length polymorphism (RFLP) of 16S + 23S rRNA gene were processed by digestion of chromosome DNA using EcoR I.

RESULTS

The same serovar field strains of Leptospira interrogans from blood samples of patients with leptospirosis and farm cattle urine resulted in unique restriction endonuclease patterns (REP) and ribosomal types (RT). The chromosome DNAs from field strains that belonged to different serovars of Leptospira interrogans caused different restriction endonuclease patterns and ribosomal types.

CONCLUSION

In accordance with this results, we recognize that farm cattle serve the infectious source of leptospirosis serovar hebdomadis and australia thus may have realistic significance in the control of leptospirosis serovar epidemic of hebdomadis and australia in China.