Identification of Leptospira in China by mapped restriction sites polymorphisms of rRNA gene
Objective To establish an initial system of identification of Leptospira in China by mapped restriction sites polymorphisms of rRNA gene. Methods 75 Leptospira international and domestic reference strains, belonging to 64 serotypes, and 27 field strains were examined using HinfⅠ and DdeⅠ mapped restriction sites polymorphisms (MRSP) of rRNA gene. Results 18 and 24 MRSP profiles were observed in 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA gene, respectively, and the total MRSP profiles were 34. The profiles of pathogenic strains had less difference from each other but more difference from nonpathogenic strains. Only MRSP 2 and 1 were observed among prevalence strains of China, and there were varieties of MRSPs among the non prevalence strains. The profiles of most field strains are in correspondence with reference strains. Conclusions Restriction sites polymorphisms of rRNA gene (MRSP) for Leptospira can be used to classify and identify Leptospira in China and also to study on molecular epidemiology for leptospirosis.