Molecular and immunological characterisation of a Leptospira strain isolated from kidney of rats (Rattus rattus) in India

Abstract

Kidneys from field rats trapped in the Izatnagal,iarea of Uttar Pradesh, India, were inoculated in EMJH medium. One of the samples yielded Leptospira organism which was designated as SR 20.Serogrouping of the isolate (SR 20) was done by microscopic agglutination test. The isolate belonged to serogroup lavanica. Cross agglutination absorption tests revealed that SR 20 did not belong to the known serovars of this group, viz. ceylonica, coxi, mengma, sofia, zhenkang, de hong and yaan. Further serological relationships based on reaction obtained with a panel of monoclonal antibodies showed that the isolate was closely related to dehong. The genomic profile of Not I digested chromosome of SR 20 was compared with serovars zhenkang, yaan, mengma, dehong, sofia, coxi and ceylonica. The profile of SR 20 appeared identical to dehong. The isolate was considered to be a new serovar (proposed name Izatnagar) closely related to dehong.