The Use of Commercial Soil Nucleic Acid Extraction Kit and Nested PCR for Detection of Leptospira in Farm Environment after Flooding in Taiwan

Authors

Ying-Bin Fuh
Wei-Yau Shia
Wei-Ming Lee
Ching-Lin Shyu
Chi-Young Wang
Chang-Young Fei

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a rapidly transmitted and flood-related disease. The number of cases usually increase in thecountries of Southeast Asia after flood damage during typhoon seasons. This disease also poses a potential threat toTaiwan due to its geographic characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a practical technique for anestimation of the distribution of Leptospira in natural environment, especially after flood damage. The aim of thisstudy was to demonstrate the use of commercial soil nucleic acid extraction kits with nested PCR in the detection ofLeptospira spp. in the farm environment. The detection limit for Leptospira DNA was 24.24 pg. A total of 108 soilsamples were collected from farms located within flood-damaged areas; the overall positive rate was 30.6%. Based onthe sequence analysis, positive samples were identified as Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira biflexa. This developedapproach might be applied in a surveillance of leptospirosis in different countries or in the detection of otherpathogens from soils.

DOI

10.56808/2985-1130.2342

First Page

493

Last Page

498

Recommended Citation

Fuh, Ying-Bin; Shia, Wei-Yau; Lee, Wei-Ming; Shyu, Ching-Lin; Wang, Chi-Young; and Fei, Chang-Young (2011) "The Use of Commercial Soil Nucleic Acid Extraction Kit and Nested PCR for Detection of Leptospira in Farm Environment after Flooding in Taiwan," The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine: Vol. 41: Iss. 4, Article 14.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56808/2985-1130.2342
Available at: https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/tjvm/vol41/iss4/14