Comparison of polymerase chain reaction assays with bacteriologic culture, immunofluorescence, and nucleic acid hybridization for detection of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo in urine of cattle

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Abstract
Objective—To compare sensitivity and specificity of various polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for detection of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo in bovine urine and to compare results of the optimal PCR assay with results of immunofluorescence, nucleic acid hybridization, and bacteriologic culture. Animals—6 heifers. Procedure—Heifers were exposed to serovar hardjo type hardjo-bovis by conjunctival instillation of 106 leptospires on 3 successive days. Urine samples were collected before and after infection. Sensitivity and specificity of 5 PCR assays were compared, to determine the optimal assay for use with bovine urine samples. The optimal PCR assay was then compared with results of bacteriologic culture, nucleic acid hybridization, and immunofluorescence. Results—A PCR assay with the best combination of specificity (100%) and sensitivity (91%) was selected for comparison with the other diagnostic tests. Sensitivity for nucleic acid hybridization was 55%, whereas sensitivity for bacteriologi...