The search for improved methods for diagnosing leptospirosis: the approach of a laboratory in Brescia, Italy.
The authors describe work in progress at the laboratory in Brescia, Italy, on the application of molecular methods to the diagnosis of leptospirosis. This work includes the following: a) Development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays capable of amplifying specific deoxyribonucleic acid fragments from most Leptospira interrogans strains. b) Development of a microtitre-based assay for rapid detection of PCR-positive samples. c) Characterisation of Leptospira strains through restriction endonuclease analysis of PCR products and amplified fragment length polymorphism.
Pacciarini
M L
ML
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia, Brescia, Italy.
Savio
M L
ML
Donini
G
G
Tagliabue
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D007558:Italy; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015183:Restriction Mapping
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial