Genotyping of Leptospira interrogans isolates from Mexican patients

Resumen

The aim of this study was genotypically characterize Leptospira sp. clinical isolates from Mexico which were previously identified as Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona (POM) by phenotypic methods. The Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method was used for DNA amplification with five oligonucleotides. A dendrogram was constructed using the Unweighted Pair Group Method Analysis (UPGMA). During the genotypic characterization, the studied isolates constituted a group which was associated with the reference strain L. interrogans serovar Pomona. The Minimum Spanning Networks (MST) analysis revealed the same cluster between Mexican isolates and the reference strain POM. Clinical isolates identified as L. interrogans serovar POM have a clonal reproduction type, suggesting that this clone is distributed in different regions of Mexico.