Browsing by Author "Engelbert, M."

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Challenges in determining the pathogenicity status of Leptospira isolates with phenotypic methods: The need for a polyvalent approach
(2010-12-04) Mgode, G. F.; Machang’u, R. S.; Collares-Pereira, M.; Vieira, M. L.; Goris, M. G. A.; Engelbert, M.; Hartskeerl, R. A.
Understanding the pathogenic status of leptospires, the causative agents of leptospirosis, is important for successful laboratory diagnosis and control programmes of this zoonosis. Leptospires are difficult to differentiate morphologically; therefore, their pathogenic, intermediate or saprophytic status is currently determined based on both phenotypic tests like growth response in medium containing 8-azaguanine and growth at low temperature (13°C), and genotypic methods. The present study reports on the pathogenic versus saprophytic characterization of nine Leptospira isolates from animal hosts (rodents and dogs) and humans, with specific interest on a canine isolate coded “Dog109”, which showed an ambiguous or intermediate status according to conventional (phenotypic) and molecular (genotypic) tests. The results strongly indicate the need of a polyvalent analytical approach for improving the differentiation of the pathogenic status of circulating serovars,