Molecular detection of leptospira spp. In water from wet Markets in Kelantan

An abstract of the research paper presented to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in partial requirement on the course DVT 5436 - Research Project Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by spirochaetes from the genus Leptospira. The disease can be transmitted through direct contact with urine of a reservoir host or indirect contact through soil and water contaminated with urine from a reservoir host. A wet market is a place where fresh meat and other needs are sold. An environment with ample food increases the risk of leptospira contamination by attracting rodents. According to the findings from previous studies, wet market workers in Kelantan had a high rate of leptospirosis seroprevalence. In the present investigation, a cross-sectional study was conducted to detect presence of Leptospira spp. in water samples collected from wet markets in Kelantan. A total of 60 water samples were collected and polymerase chain reaction was carried out to detect the presence of leptospira DNA in water samples. As for results, all the water samples were negative for Leptospira spp.. In conclusion, Leptospira spp. were not detected in water samples collected from wet markets in Kelantan.
Keywords: Kelantan, Leptospira spp., Molecular detection, Water sample, Wet markets.