Isolation and survival of Leptospira in kidney tissue of wild rodents

Abstract

By means of dark field microscopy and culture in EMJH medium, 198 kidneys from rodents of 7 murine species were tested in order to check leptospira infection. The spirochaetal survival was also tested in a kidney tissue suspension.

Thirty six (18,2%9 rodents were positive and 31 (15,7%)out then were positive to leptospira by microscopic detection, being possible the spirochet isolation in 7 (3,5%) cases. The concordance between both tests was 82,82%.

Most of the Leptospira strains survived in the renal suspension in the first 48 hh. The loss of motility or the dissapearance was associated to de pH decrease and increase in bacterial contamination.