A versatile isothermal amplification assay for the detection of leptospires from various sample types.

Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus that affects both humans and animals worldwide. Early detection of the pathogen in humans is crucial for early intervention and control of the progression of the disease to a severe state. It is also vitally important to be able to detect the presence of the pathogen in carrier animals to control the spread of the disease from the environment.

and Virulence Analysis of Species Isolated From Environments and Rodents in Leptospirosis Outbreak Areas in Malaysia.

The zoonotic disease leptospirosis is caused by pathogenic species of the genus . With the advancement of studies in leptospirosis, several new species are being reported. It has always been a query, whether species, serovars, and strains isolated from different geographical locations contribute to the difference in the disease presentations and severity.

Genomic data of HP358 isolated from rodent captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of Selangor state, Malaysia.

The data provided in this article is the genomic sequence of new isolate, strain HP358 ( HP358) isolated from rodent, , captured from the human leptospirosis suspected area, in forest environment, Hulu Perdik, Selangor. The kidney of the rodent was cultured, and the genomic DNA of pure isolate was extracted and sequenced. The assembly of genome generated 118 contigs with N50 of 133,176bp.

Gamification, a Successful Method to Foster Leptospirosis Knowledge among University Students: A Pilot Study.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that has been reported in Malaysia and has been associated with a recent trend of recreational activities among the youth. Thus, efforts such as educational interventions among high-risk populations, especially the youth, are key to increasing public awareness regarding leptospirosis. This paper presents the findings of a pilot study wherein an educational intervention using a gamification intervention method was used to determine changes in leptospirosis knowledge among youth.

Microhabitat Factors Influenced the Prevalence of Pathogenic Leptospira spp. in Small Mammal Host.

Leptospirosis, a widespread zoonotic disease, is a public health problem, especially in major urban centres, and is mainly reported to be associated with rats. In Malaysia, focus has been primarily given to the Leptospira prevalence in rodents per se, but there is lack of information on the microhabitat structure of the outbreak areas. We aimed to determine the diversity of small mammal species, microhabitat types, and their prevalence of pathogenic Leptospira spp.

An outbreak of leptospirosis among reserve military recruits, Hulu Perdik, Malaysia.

Here, we investigated an outbreak of leptospirosis among reserve military recruits that occurred following a survival exercise in the Hulu Perdik forest within the Hulu Langat district, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Blood samples from the 12 patients that presented symptoms for febrile illness on clinical examination were subjected to laboratory investigation, comprising Lepto IgM rapid test, IgM ELISA, and microscopic agglutination test (MAT). All these patients were interviewed for possible risk factors for leptospirosis.

Diagnostic accuracy of rapid diagnostic tests for the early detection of leptospirosis.

Background: Leptospirosis is often misdiagnosed with several other tropical febrile illnesses in Malaysia due to similarities in clinical manifestations. Although treatment regimens could be started based on clinical judgments, early diagnosis has become paramount as a guide to chemotherapeutic interventions. Confirmed laboratory diagnosis through MAT or PCR is time consuming and usually available only in reference laboratories and not practical in healthcare settings.

Molecular characterization of pathogenic Leptospira sp. in small mammals captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of Selangor state, Malaysia.

Leptospirosis is caused by the spirochetal bacterium Leptospira of which rodents are considered the most important reservoir. This study aims to determine and characterize virulent Leptospira species among rodents and small mammals found in human settlements and recreational spots within the Hulu Langat and Gombak districts of Selangor, Malaysia; regions that frequently report probable human leptospirosis cases. Molecular analysis revealed an overall Leptospira detection rate of 14.