title: The search for improved methods for diagnosing leptospirosis: the approach of a laboratory in Brescia, Italy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pacciarini
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Savio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tagliabue
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial