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Detection of leptospires in bovine semen by polymerase chain reaction
Author(s) -
HEINEMANN MB,
GARCIA JF,
NUNES CM,
MORAIS ZM,
GREGORI F.,
CORTEZ A.,
VASCONCELLOS SA,
VISINTIN JA,
RICHTZENHAIN LJ
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1999.tb12422.x
Subject(s) - semen , polymerase chain reaction , serology , serotype , titer , biology , agglutinin , leptospirosis , virology , andrology , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , immunology , medicine , virus , lectin , genetics , gene
Objective In view of the considerable importance of vene real transmission of bovine leptospirosis, the objective of the present study was to compare the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), culture/isolation and serology to detect leptospire infection in bovine semen. Design Blood for serologic examination and semen for bacterial culture and PCR were collected from 20 bulls at arti ficial insemination centres in Brazil. Each animal was sampled twice for serology. Result Forty‐five percent (9/20) of the serum samples collected showed agglutinin titers to serovar hardjo i n the first sample and 25% (5/20) had agglutinin titers to serovar hardjo in the second sample. Eighty percent (16/20) of semen samples were positive by PCR. Leptospires could not be isolated from any of the semen samples examined. Conclusion Polymerase chain reaction can be a method of great potential for the detection of leptospires at artificial insemination centres.