Identification of Pathogenic and Saprophytic Leptospira spp from the Rice Fields of Tonekabon Township Using PCR Technique

Leptospirosis is one of the most significant common diseases between human and live stock created by the various species of Pathogenic Leptospira. Pathogenic Leptospiras are shed in the environment through urine of the infected animals, including rodents or domestic animals (Dog, Cow, Sheep and Pig) and cause disease in human through direct and indirect contact with contaminated environment. This disease is to be construed as a native disease in the Northern provinces of Iran (Mazandaran and Gilan) and risk of infection with the strains of pathogen is high. 115 samples of water (67), soil (36) and feces of the rodents (12) were collected from the rice fields of suburbs of Tonekabon township situated in the Northern part of Iran. In order to identified sample was inoculated to liquid EMJH medium and incubated for 1 month at 30 . After incubation time, PCR technique was used to identify the saprophytic and pathogenic species of this bacterium. It was in such a way that, after initial enrichment, DNA extraction of bacterium was carried out by DNA extraction kit and PCR technique was executed using the specific primers. Instead, 92 strains of Leptospira were identified using the PCR technique, out of which 54 species 438 S. Rostampour Yasouri, R. Goleyjani Moghadam and M. Ghane were diagnosed as saprophytic ones (46.95%) and 38 species as pathogenic ones (33.04%). PCR technique can be used to identify the Leptospira species in the water and soil samples. Due to usage of mentioned primers, this method is able to differentiate between the saprophytic and pathogenic Leptispiras.