title: Detection of Leptospira in Rats Trapped from Households in Phraroj Village, Muang Sam Sip District, Ubon Ratchathani Province Using Polymerase Chain Reaction Technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Leptospira, has been a health problem in Thailand for several years. Rats are a major reservoir host for Leptospira, and the people who are usually in contact with environments contaminated with rats' urine are at risk of infection. The prevalence rate of Leptospira infection in rats may result in the spread of leptospirosis in humans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the prevalence rate ofLeptospira infection in a total of 28 rats and develop a spatial database for leptospirosis surveillance in Phraroj village in Muang Sam Sip District, Ubon Ratchathani Province.
  
  
  METHODS
  The positions of the households and the rat-trapping area were tagged by using of a Global Positioning System (GPS). DNA samples were isolated fromn rats' kidneys. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used for the detection of 16s rRNA and LipL32 genes specific to genus and pathogenic Leptospira respectively. All of the data were used to develop a geo-data base by the connection of spatial data and attributed data to be used for query and retrieval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A map of the positions of the households and the rat-trapping area in Phraroj village was created. No rats were found to be infected in the Leptospira survey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no trapped rat infected with Leptospira in Phraroj village. This result may involve unreported leptospirosis in patients in this village. The Leptospira survey in rats and the geo-database will be used as a primary resource to support and make decisions about surveillance, prevention, and control of leptospirosis.
authors.forename: Jaruwan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wongbutdee
authors.forename: Jutharat
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jittimanee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D007919:Leptospira / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C406589:LipL32 protein, Leptospira; D008074:Lipoproteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S