Rapid diagnosis of leptospirosis using PCR and DNA hybridization techniques*

Abstract

Molecular techniques such as Nucleic acid hybridization using Slot blot and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were compared with routine diagnostic methods for diagnosis of leptospirosis. A recombinant probe derived from genomic library of australis serovar was used for hybridization. A pair of primers G_{1/SUB> and G2 was used for PCR. Both the methods were rapid and sensitive over conventional method of isolation and culturing as the Slot blot hybridization detected 76.83% and PCR detected 81.70% of the samples tested.}