title: Molecular detection of Leptospira kirschneri in tissues of a prematurely born foal.
abstract: Leptospirosis was identified to be the possible cause of premature birth in a foal on a farm with a history of repeated abortions. Using an appropriate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, the presence of Leptospira kirschneri was detected in the tissues of the prematurely born foal. Further confirmation of L. kirschneri was obtained by nucleotide sequence analysis of the PCR-amplified DNA fragment and the partial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. This report further supports mounting evidence that a PCR assay capable of detecting L. kirschneri should be included in routine diagnostic investigations in which Leptospira spp. infection is suspected.
authors.affiliation: Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vemulapalli
authors.forename: Ingeborg M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Langohr
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiupel
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bolin
authors.forename: Ching-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tsang-Long
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses; D007919:Leptospira / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial