title: Our experience using real-time PCR for the detection of the gene that encodes the superficial lipoprotein LipL32 of the pathogenic leptospires to confirm the acute form of human leptospirosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine biological materials (blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid) of patients with suspected leptospirosis using real-time PCR for detecting the gene that codes the superficial LipL32 lipoprotein, and to evaluate the contribution of the real-time PCR method for the laboratory diagnosis of the acute form of leptospirosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the monitored period of April 2010 - December 2011, a total of 340 biological materials samples were examined (177x blood plasma, 88x urine, 68x, cerebrospinal fluid, 6x bronchoalveolar lavage and 1x sputum) from 216 patients with suspected leptospirosis using real-time PCR LipL32 gene detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the mentioned 216 patients suspected of leptospirosis, 8 patients were evaluated as being PCR LipL32 positive, from which 14 positive biological materials originated (9 x urine, 4x blood and 1x liquor).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As demonstrated in the study, the real-time PCR method for detecting the gene for the superficial lipoprotein LipL32 is an appropriate, quick and reliable method for the diagnosis of the acute form of leptospirosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University in Prague and University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kucerova
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cermakova
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pliskova
authors.forename: Oto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pavlis
authors.forename: Pavla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kubickova
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kleprlikova
authors.forename: Zbynek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Valenta
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007919:Leptospira / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; C406589:LipL32 protein, Leptospira; D008074:Lipoproteins