[A polymerase chain reaction method for studying host persistence of pathogenic leptospira]

Polymerase chain reaction has for the first time been shown to be applicable to indication of Leptospira interrogans in the organs of infected animals with acute or chronic leptospirosis (on the model of golden syrian hamsters). Polymerase chain reaction is superior to microscopic and bacteriological analyses in identification of leptospirae in organ suspensions. The sensitivity of the technique is 1-10 cells per sample in studies of kidney or brain suspensions or 100-1000 cells in studies of liver suspensions.