Molecular detection of leptospira spp. In soil from wet market in Kelantan

Leptospirosis is a globally significant zoonotic illness brought on by pathogenic Leptospira spp. Leptospira spp. have been discovered in humans, animals, and environmental materials in Malaysia. Leptospirosis can be transmitted through direct contact with the urine of a reservoir host or indirect contact through soil and water that contaminated with urine from a reservoir host. High seroprevalence of leptospirosis has been reported in wet market workers in Kelantan by previous studies. However, the source of infection is still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this research was to detect Leptospira spp. from the soil in wet markets in Kelantan by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 60 samples were collected from 7 wet markets in three districts in Kelantan. After DNA extraction, PCR was performed for all samples and there was no Leptospira spp. was detected. In conclusion, pathogenic Leptospira spp. were not detected in soil samples collected from wet markets of Kelantan.
Keywords: Kelantan, Leptospira spp., Polymerase chain reaction, Soil, Wet market