Polymorphism Identification of VNTR4 and VNTR10 loci in Leptospira introgans serovares in Iran

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by Leptospira. Rapid identification is important for treatment. Today MLVA technique is used for rapid identification of Leptospira serovares. The purpose of this study is Identification of pathogenic Leptospira serovares by MLVA method in Iran. A total 14 pathogenic Leptospira serovares and 1 saprophytic serovar that maintained from microbial bank of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran. The Genomic DNA of Leptospira was extracted. PCR was performed with primers for loci VNTR4, VNTR10. The amplified fragments were analyzed by gel electrophoresis. The sizes of the amplified products were estimated. The saprophytic and L.borgpetersenii serovares showed no amplified fragments. Both VNTR loci displayed polymorphism for some serovares. The sizes of the amplified products of VNTR10 showed a wide range of polymorphism. VNTR10 has a wide range of polymorphism between Atumnalis, Hardjo St. Hardjo bovis, Icterohaemorrhagia St. RGA and Canicola St. Fiocruz LV133. Most of the VNTR patterns were similar in different serovares while showed significant differences with same serovares of South America and Europe. L.introgans Hardjo St. Hardjo bovis and L.introgans Hardjo St Hardjo prajitno Identified by MLVA but PFGE was unable to differentiate them. In conclusion MLVA technique with wide range of polymorphism is known as good marker for rapid identification of serovares.