A serological investigation of leptospirosis in sows from central Thailand.

Leptospirosis is a major pig-associated zoonosis worldwide. There are also human occupational disease exposure risks. For better public health and sanitation, the prevalence of this disease was investigated. Four hundred sera were obtained from sows in central Thailand during August 2004 to January 2005 and examined with 20 reference leptospira serovars by a microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The results showed that 10% of samples gave a positive reaction. The most prevalent serovar was grippotyphosa which accounted for 55% of all positive cases. Other minor serovars were canicola and a non-pathogenic strain (patoc). It follows that, the sow may be one of the disease transmitting sources for humans in this area. The disease correlation between pigs, humans and the environments should be evaluated.

Western immunoblot analysis using a ten leptospira serovars combined antigen for serodiagnosis of leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is a major zoonotic disease throughout the world. There are unavailable accuracy diagnostic methods for the acute phase of infection. To demonstrate the advantage of Western immunoblot, a mixed leptospira serovars antigen for the serodiagnosis of leptospirosis was employed. SDS-PAGE and Western immunoblot was performed using a 10 mixed leptospira serovars antigen and stained with 16 reference rabbit anti-leptospirosis antibodies. The result showed different immunoreactive band patterns for each reference serum. The bands with molecular weights of 15-20, 23-24, 41 and 45 kDa were commonly found (88% to 100% of the 16 reference sera). Using combined leptospira antigens in a Western immunoblot technique is an alternative and practical strategy for a more sensitive leptospirosis serodiagnosis.

Surveillance of leptospirosis after flooding at Loei Province, Thailand by year 2002.

In this surveillance, suspected leptospirosis patients in Loei Hospital, Loei Province were studied by conventional methods of cultivation and microscopic agglutination test (MAT) during July-October, 2002. It was found that 63% of 64 admitted patients and 35% of 34 outpatients were found positive by leptospire cultivation. Antibodies determined by MAT were positive in 78% of 63 admitted patients. Particularly, the five most common agglutinating antibodies were reactive with serovars bratislava (57%), autumnalis (48%), new (38%), australis (37%) and bangkok (29%). The MAT results of 15 OPD patients were 67% positive with the following five serovars, including bratislava (47%), new (20%), bangkok (7%), ranarum (7%) and australis (7%). Accordingly, preventive strategies against leptospirosis outbreaks after flooding in Thailand should be undertaken, including the prompt treatment of the disease in this endemic area.