[Identification of immunoreactive antigens of Leptospira interrogans]

A batch of 28 llama (Lama gama) sera from Jujuy province in Argentina was studied in order to identify immune reactive antigens to Leptospira interrogans. Different antigenic preparations from the bacterium were used to study the immune reactivity by the microagglutination (MAT), ELISA and Western immunoblot tests. A control pool of positive bovine sera was used. All the llama sera were negative to MAT as well as to ELISA. Two of the llama sera and the positive bovine sera pool rendered positive results when evaluated by Western immunoblot, allowing the identification of immune reactive proteins. These proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF. A periplasmic flagellin of Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai STR called FlaB1 was identified from the reactive llama sera, and an external membrane lipoprotein of Leptospira interrogans serovar Ballum called LipL21 was identified from the pool of bovine positive sera. These proteins could be used in a new ELISA applied to the early diagnosis of leptospirosis in different kind of cattle or wild reservoirs.