title: A multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis assay provides high discrimination for genotyping Leptospira santarosai strains.
abstract: Considering the prevalence of Leptospira santarosai infections in the Americas and the scarce information about the species, we aimed to apply a multilocus variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) for the molecular typing of L. santarosai isolates from various sources. Amplification of three VNTR loci selected from L. santarosai genome sequences resulted in a wide range of sizes for the amplified products amongst the 21 L. santarosai strains analysed. This suggested a variation in tandem repeat copy numbers in the VNTR loci. secY sequencing also showed a high nucleotide diversity, confirming the MLVA data. In conclusion, this novel MLVA provided a high level of discrimination between L. santarosai isolates, and this new typing tool could be used to investigate leptospirosis in regions where L. santarosai predominates.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hamond
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.affiliation: Bio-Manguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Alberto
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Spirochètes, National Reference Center and WHO Collaborating Center for Leptospirosis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bourhy
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lilenbaum
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Spirochètes, National Reference Center and WHO Collaborating Center for Leptospirosis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picardeau
mesh_terms: D000569:Americas; D000818:Animals; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007919:Leptospira / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000379:methods*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA