Detection of leptospires by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in urine samples of slaughtered cattle

Abstract

A Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay was used for detection of leptospires in urine samples of slaughtered cattle in the Trakya district of Turkey where sera and kidney samples had been investigated by traditional methods in the authors' previous study. Using a pair of genus-specific primers derived from the rrs (16S) gene of leptospires as a target sequence, 3 of 89 (3.37%) samples were discovered to be positive by PCR while only one and two samples had been found positive by Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) and ELISA, respectively. The results indicate that PCR is a useful method for a rapid and more sensitive detection of infected and carrier cows that are a major source of infection not only for other animals, but also for farm workers and other people.