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  1. Fulltext The prevalence and risk factors of nosocomial Acinetobacter blood stream infections in tertiary teaching hospital in north-eastern Malaysia
    Deris ZZ, Harun A, Omar M, Johari MR
    Trop Biomed, 2009 Aug;26(2):123-9, 219-22.
    PMID: 19901898
    Acinetobacter spp. is a known nosocomial pathogen causing a wide range of clinical diseases mainly pneumonia, wound infections and blood stream infections (BSI). A cross sectional descriptive study was performed to determine the prevalence of Acinetobacter infection in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan (HUSM). The risk factors of Acinetobacter BSI were determined by 1:1 case control analytical study, involving fifty-eight confirmed cases of Acinetobacter BSI patients compared to the cases caused by Gram-negative bacteria. The prevalence of Acinetobacter BSI in the HUSM was 6.11% (95% CI 4.88-7.53%). The attack rate of Acinetobacter BSI was 2.77 episodes per 1000 hospital admissions. Acinetobacter BSI patients were mostly located in intensive care unit and had a longer intensive care unit stay. In univariate analysis, the risk factors for Acinetobacter BSI include prior exposure to antimicrobial agents such as penicillins, aminoglycosides and cephalosporins, mechanical ventilation, presence of nasogastric tube, arterial catheter and urinary catheter. In multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors for Acinetobacter BSI were prior treatment with cephalosporins (OR 3.836 95% CI 1.657-8.881 p=0.002) and mechanical ventilation (OR 3.164 95% CI 1.353-7.397 p=0.008). This study revealed that rational use of antimicrobial agents is of paramount importance to control Acinetobacter BSI.
  2. Reduced susceptibility of Burkholderia pseudomallei following exposure to carbapenem
    Zamani A, Zueter AR, Muhd Besari A, Hasan H, Harun A, Deris ZZ
    Trop Biomed, 2020 Sep 01;37(3):783-790.
    PMID: 33612791 DOI: 10.47665/tb.37.3.783
    Reduced susceptibility in Burkholderia pseudomallei during carbapenem therapy may lead to treatment failure. We isolated a clinical strain that had developed reduced susceptibility to carbapenems while on treatment. After reviewing the patient's clinical notes, the initial isolate (BUPS01/14) was exposed to carbapenem in vitro to mimic the clinical scenario. The stability of susceptibility of the carbapenem-exposed strain (BUPS01/14R) was examined by serial subculture in antibiotic-free broth. Biochemical and morphological comparison was performed by the VITEK® system and electron microscopy. MICs increased 32-fold following carbapenem exposure and became stable in the antibiotic-free environment. On electron microscopic examination, the BUPS01/14R cells were smoother and less wrinkled compared to BUPS01/14 cells. This report highlights a potential anti-melioidosis treatment failure due to the emergence of resistance while on carbapenem monotherapy. Further study of this strain is necessary to understand the mechanism of resistance at a molecular level.
  3. Distribution of candidemia in Malaysian tertiary care hospital revealed predominance of Candida parapsilosis
    Yamin D, Husin A, Harun A
    Trop Biomed, 2020 Dec 01;37(4):903-910.
    PMID: 33612744 DOI: 10.47665/tb.37.4.903
    Candida parapsilosis is an important pathogen of healthcare-associated bloodstream infections (BSI) causing high mortality and morbidity in immunocompromised patients in addition to other Candida species including C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, and C. krusei. Knowledge on recent local species distribution and trend is essential. An increase in the proportion of C. parapsilosis candidemia has been recently observed as a result of many risk factors. The distribution of candidemia has been changing in the last three decades. To determine the proportion of different Candida species causing candidemia in a tertiary-care hospital during January 2001 - December 2018, a retrospective study performed in a 853-bedded tertiary-care hospital in north-eastern Malaysia. All cases of candidemia from January-2001 to December-2018 were included, and the review was performed based on patients' medical records and laboratory database. The frequency of different Candida species was determined. This study showed that out of 1175 patients with candidemia, C. parapsilosis was the most common species contributing to 29.2% (343/1175) of candidemia, followed by C. albicans 20.1% (236/1175), C. tropicalis 18.7% (220/1175), C. glabrata 6.0% (71/1175), C. guilliermondii 3.7% (43/1175), C. rugosa 1.9% (22/1175), C. famata 1.7% (20/1175), C. krusei 1.4% (16/1175), C. dubliniensis 0.8% (9/1175), C. lusitaniae 0.7% (8/1175), C. lipolytica 0.3% (4/1175), C. pelliculosa 0.3% (4/1175), C. haemulonii, C. kefyr, C. utilis and C. inconspicua (1/1175 each). In addition, 14.9% (175/1175) belonged to Candida spp. which were not identified to species level. In conclusion, a different scenario for the proportion of Candida species with C. parapsilosis predominates over C. albicans as a nosocomial pathogen leading to candidemia has been shown in this study.
  4. Recurrent Trichosporon asahii glossitis: a case report
    Shareef BT, Harun A, Roziawati Y, Bahari IS, Deris ZZ, Ravichandran M
    J Contemp Dent Pract, 2008;9(3):114-20.
    PMID: 18335127
    This case report aims at describing an infection of the tongue as a manifestation of a Trichosporon asahii infection, its association with bronchial asthma and steroid administration, and to present a review of the literature pertaining to its antifungal susceptibility profile.
  5. Outcomes and appropriateness of management of nosocomial Acinetobacter bloodstream infections at a teaching hospital in northeastern Malaysia
    Deris ZZ, Harun A, Shafei MN, Rahman RA, Johari MR
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2009 Jan;40(1):140-7.
    PMID: 19323046
    Acinetobacter spp is a known nosocomial pathogen causing a wide range of clinical diseases such as pneumonia, wound infection and bloodstream infections (BSI). The clinical outcomes of acinetobacter BSI were determined by a 1:1 case control study involving 58 confirmed cases of acinetobacter BSI who were compared to other gram-negative infections. The crude mortality of acinetobacter BSI was 47.2%, which was significantly greater than other gram-negative BSI (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.10-3.24) but there were no significant differences in attributed mortality between the two groups. We found that patients treated in intensive care units (ICU), who had longer ICU stays, who presented with shock or coagulopathy, had prior exposure to carbapenems, had mechanical ventilation, were on a ventilator for longer periods, had a nasogastric tube, had an arterial catheter or had parenteral nutrition at a significantly greater risk of mortality due to acinetobacter BSI. Patients presenting with septic shock (OR 17.95, 95% CI 3.36-95.84) or having a central venous catheter (OR 12.48, 95% CI 1.09-142.68) were independently at higher risk for mortality. Appropriateness of therapy reduced the mortality attributes of acinetobacter BSI (OR 0.197, 95% CI 0.040-0.967) but did not significantly reduce crude mortality in acinetobacter BSI patients. This study shows the importance of preventing acinetobacter BSI and the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents to reduce mortality.
  6. Antibiotic resistance, plasmid profile and RAPD-PCR analysis of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) clinical isolates
    Wan KF, Radu S, Cheah YK, Benjamin PG, Ling CM, Hon SF, et al.
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2003 Sep;34(3):620-6.
    PMID: 15115139
    Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a leading cause of diarrhea among infants in developing countries. A total of 38 EPEC isolates, obtained from diarrhea patients of Hospital Miri, Sarawak, were investigated through plasmid profile, antibiotic resistance and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. From the 8 types of antibiotics used, all isolates were 100% resistant to furoxime, cephalothin and sulphamethoxazole and showed high multiple antibiotic resistant (MAR) indexes, ranging from 0.5 to 1.0. In plasmid profiling, 22 isolates (58%) showed the presence of one or more plasmids in the range 1.0 to 30.9 mDa. The dendrogram obtained from the results of the RAPD-PCR discriminated the isolates into 30 single isolates and 3 clusters at the level of 40% similarity. The EPEC isolates were highly diverse, as shown by their differing plasmid profiles, antibiotic resistance patterns and RAPD profiles.
  7. Species-specific PCR primers for simultaneous detection of Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata in invasive fungal infections
    Ismadi YKM, Mohamad S, Harun A
    Malays J Pathol, 2023 Dec;45(3):397-403.
    PMID: 38155381
    A rapid and accurate diagnosis of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has been a great challenge particularly in cases requiring prompt antifungal treatment. In this study, four primer pairs were designed for a quadruplex PCR assay, which was developed for detection of four fungal species simultaneously. DNA extraction of cultured colonies and spiked blood samples were performed using conventional (phenol-chloroform) techniques and commercial DNA extraction kit. The optimum annealing temperature for this assay was 60°C. The assay was able to amplify all four genes and showed 100% specificity. No amplification of any genes was obtained against other species (n=14), which included two bacteria species. In conclusion, this quadruplex PCR assay is specific, rapid and reliable to detect A. fumigatus, A. terreus, C. albicans and C. glabrata simultaneously.
  8. A Critical Appraisal of COVID-19 in Malaysia and Beyond
    Abdullah JM, Wan Ismail WFN, Mohamad I, Ab Razak A, Harun A, Musa KI, et al.
    Malays J Med Sci, 2020 Mar;27(2):1-9.
    PMID: 32308536 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2020.27.2.1
    When the first report of COVID-19 appeared in December 2019 from Wuhan, China, the world unknowingly perceived this as another flu-like illness. Many were surprised at the extreme steps that China had subsequently taken to seal Wuhan from the rest of the world. However, by February 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, had spread so quickly across the globe that the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. COVID-19 is not the first pandemic the world has seen, so what makes it so unique in Malaysia, is discussed to avoid a future coronacoma.
  9. Fulltext Fungal genotyping - current clinical application
    Harun A
    Malays J Med Sci, 2014 Nov-Dec;21(6):1-2.
    PMID: 25897275
    The emergence of fungal species as opportunistic pathogens has warranted further studies on their pathogenicity, epidemiology, and transmissibility. Fungal genotyping has been employed to study the genetic relatedness within the organism, in order to obtain answers to epidemiological questions (such as in outbreak confirmation) as well as to provide basis for the improvement for patients care. Various fungal genotyping methods have been previously published, which can be chosen depending on the intended use and the capability of individual laboratory.
  10. Fulltext Potential Usefulness of Bacteriophages for the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter Infection
    Raees F, Harun A, Ahmed A, Deris ZZ
    Malays J Med Sci, 2023 Oct;30(5):7-22.
    PMID: 37928784 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2023.30.5.2
    Bacteriophages were discovered in early 20th century. However, the interest in bacteriophage research was reduced with the discovery of antibiotics. With the increasing number of infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms, the potential usefulness of bacteriophages as therapeutic agents has been re-evaluated. In this review, we found that more than 30 lytic bacteriophages that infect Acinetobacter species have been characterised. These are mainly members of Caudovirales, with genome sizes ranging from 31 kb to 234 kb and G+C contents ranging from 33.5% to 45.5%. The host range can be as low as < 10% of all tested Acinetobacter strains. Fourteen published murine trials indicated positive outcomes in bacteriophage-treated groups. Only two case reports were pertaining to the use of bacteriophages in the treatment of Acinetobacter infections in humans; in both cases, the infections were resolved with bacteriophage therapy. The use of bacteriophages has been associated with reduced Acinetobacter burden in the environment, as shown in two studies. The major limitation of bacteriophage therapy is its highly selective host strain. In conclusion, the potential usefulness of bacteriophage therapy for the treatment of MDR Acinetobacter species has been documented only in limited studies and more research is needed prior to its extensive use in clinical practice.
  11. African neuroscience on the global stage: Nigeria as a model
    Maina MB, Mohammed YG, Bukar AM, Ahmad U, Tijjani Salihu A, Ibrahim HA, et al.
    Eur J Neurosci, 2019 06;49(12):1544-1551.
    PMID: 30758873 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14372
    Of the 572 neuroscience-related studies published in Nigerian from 1996 to 2017, <5% used state-of-the-art techniques, none used transgenic models, and only one study was published in a top-tier journal.
  12. Fulltext Application of an Effective Statistical Technique for an Accurate and Powerful Mining of Quantitative Trait Loci for Rice Aroma Trait
    Golestan Hashemi FS, Rafii MY, Ismail MR, Mohamed MT, Rahim HA, Latif MA, et al.
    PLoS One, 2015;10(6):e0129069.
    PMID: 26061689 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129069
    When a phenotype of interest is associated with an external/internal covariate, covariate inclusion in quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses can diminish residual variation and subsequently enhance the ability of QTL detection. In the in vitro synthesis of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP), the main fragrance compound in rice, the thermal processing during the Maillard-type reaction between proline and carbohydrate reduction produces a roasted, popcorn-like aroma. Hence, for the first time, we included the proline amino acid, an important precursor of 2AP, as a covariate in our QTL mapping analyses to precisely explore the genetic factors affecting natural variation for rice scent. Consequently, two QTLs were traced on chromosomes 4 and 8. They explained from 20% to 49% of the total aroma phenotypic variance. Additionally, by saturating the interval harboring the major QTL using gene-based primers, a putative allele of fgr (major genetic determinant of fragrance) was mapped in the QTL on the 8th chromosome in the interval RM223-SCU015RM (1.63 cM). These loci supported previous studies of different accessions. Such QTLs can be widely used by breeders in crop improvement programs and for further fine mapping. Moreover, no previous studies and findings were found on simultaneous assessment of the relationship among 2AP, proline and fragrance QTLs. Therefore, our findings can help further our understanding of the metabolomic and genetic basis of 2AP biosynthesis in aromatic rice.
  13. Fulltext Molecular detection and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli in broiler chicken farms in Malaysia
    Lemlem M, Aklilu E, Mohammed M, Kamaruzzaman F, Zakaria Z, Harun A, et al.
    PLoS One, 2023;18(5):e0285743.
    PMID: 37205716 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285743
    Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major public health threats globally. This challenge has been aggravated with the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in food animals and humans. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Extended-Spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes in Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from broiler chickens in Kelantan, Malaysia. A total of 320 cloacal swabs were collected from farms in different districts of Kelantan and were analyzed using routine bacteriology, antimicrobial susceptibility test, and molecular techniques for further identification and characterization of ESBL encoding genes. Based on PCR detection for the E. coli species-specific Pho gene, 30.3% (97/320) of isolates were confirmed as E. coli, and 84.5% (82/97) of the isolates were positive for at least one ESBL gene. Majority of the isolates, 62.9% (61/97) were harboring blaCTX-M followed by 45.4% (44/97) of blaTEM genes, while 16.5% (16/97) of the isolates were positive for both mcr-1 and ESBL genes. Overall, 93.8% (90/97) of the E. coli were resistant to three or more antimicrobials; indicating that the isolates were multi-drug resistance. 90.7% of multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index value greater than 0.2, would also suggest the isolates were from high-risk sources of contamination. The MLST result shows that the isolates are widely diverse. Our findings provide insight into the alarmingly high distribution of antimicrobial resistant bacteria, mainly ESBL producing E. coli in apparently healthy chickens indicating the role of food animals in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance, and the potential public health threats it may pose.
  14. Fulltext Factors associated with occupational asthma among food industry workers: A systematic review
    Md Zamri ASS, Saruddin MZ, Harun A, Abd Aziz SF, Aizad Za'bah AK, Dapari R, et al.
    PLoS One, 2023;18(6):e0287040.
    PMID: 37307252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287040
    INTRODUCTION: Occupational asthma (OA) is a type of Work-Related Asthma characterised by variable airflow limitation and/or inflammation due to causes and conditions attributable to a particular occupational environment, and not to stimuli encountered outside the workplace. There is an increasing need to extend the depth of knowledge of OA to better manage this condition, especially among food industry workers who are affected by it.

    OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to determine the factors associated with occupational asthma among food industry workers by electronically collecting articles from two databases (Medline and Scopus).

    METHODS: This systematic review was prepared in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses) updated guideline. Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts of the collected data, which were then stored in Endnote20 based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The included articles have been critically appraised to assess the quality of the studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).

    RESULT: The search yielded 82 articles from Medline and 85 from SCOPUS, resulting in 167 unique hits. Only 22 articles have been included in the full-text assessment following a rigorous selection screening. Of the 22 articles identified, five were included in the final review. Several factors were found to have contributed to occupational asthma among food industry workers. They were classified into two categories: (1) work environment-related factors; and (2) individual factors.

    CONCLUSION: Several work environment and individual-related factors were found to be associated with OA among food industry workers. A better understanding of the development of the disease and its potential risk factors is needed because it can affect worker's quality of life. Pre-employment and periodic medical surveillance should be conducted to assess and detect any possible risk of developing occupational asthma among workers.

  15. Genetic variation, heritability, divergence and biomass accumulation of rice genotypes resistant to bacterial blight revealed by quantitative traits and ISSR markers
    Mazid MS, Rafii MY, Hanafi MM, Rahim HA, Latif MA
    Physiol Plant, 2013 Nov;149(3):432-47.
    PMID: 23521023 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.12054
    A field experiment was carried out in order to evaluate genetic diversity of 41 rice genotypes using physiological traits and molecular markers. All the genotypes unveiled variations for crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), yield per hill (Yhill(-1)), total dry matter (TDM), harvest index (HI), photosynthetic rate (PR), leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll-a and chlorophyll-b at maximum tillering stage. The CGR values varied from 0.23 to 0.76 gm cm(-2) day(-1). The Yhill(-1) ranged from 15.91 to 92.26 g, while TDM value was in the range of 7.49 to 20.45 g hill(-1). PR was found to vary from 9.40 to 22.34 µmol m(-2) s(-1). PR expressed positive relation with Yhill(-1). Significant positive relation was found between CGR and TDM (r = 0.61**), NAR and CGR (r = 0.62**) and between TDM and NAR (r = 0.31**). High heritability was found in RGR and Yhill(-1). Cluster analysis based on the traits grouped 41 rice genotypes into seven clusters. A total of 310 polymorphic loci were detected across the 20 inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers. The UPGMA dendrogram grouped 41 rice genotypes into 11 clusters including several sub-clusters. The Mantel test revealed positive correlation between quantitative traits and molecular markers (r = 0.41). On the basis of quantitative traits and molecular marker analyses parental genotypes, IRBB54 with MR84, IRBB60 with MR84, Purbachi with MR263, IRBB65 with BR29, IRBB65 with Pulut Siding and MRQ74 with Purbachi could be hybridized for future breeding program.
  16. Fulltext A multicentre study to determine the in vitro efficacy of flomoxef against extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli in Malaysia
    Yap PSX, Chong CW, Ponnampalavanar S, Ramli R, Harun A, Tengku Jamaluddin TZM, et al.
    PeerJ, 2023;11:e16393.
    PMID: 38047021 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16393
    BACKGROUND: The high burden of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales worldwide, especially in the densely populated South East Asia poses a significant threat to the global transmission of antibiotic resistance. Molecular surveillance of ESBL-producing pathogens in this region is vital for understanding the local epidemiology, informing treatment choices, and addressing the regional and global implications of antibiotic resistance.

    METHODS: Therefore, an inventory surveillance of the ESBL-Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) isolates responsible for infections in Malaysian hospitals was conducted. Additionally, the in vitro efficacy of flomoxef and other established antibiotics against ESBL-EC was evaluated.

    RESULTS: A total of 127 non-repetitive ESBL-EC strains isolated from clinical samples were collected during a multicentre study performed in five representative Malaysian hospitals. Of all the isolates, 33.9% were isolated from surgical site infections and 85.8% were hospital-acquired infections. High rates of resistance to cefotaxime (100%), cefepime (100%), aztreonam (100%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (100%) were observed based on the broth microdilution test. Carbapenems remained the most effective antibiotics against the ESBL-EC, followed by flomoxef. Antibiotic resistance genes were identified by PCR. The blaCTX-M-1 was the most prevalent ESBL gene, with 28 isolates (22%) harbouring blaCTX-M-1 only, 27 isolates (21.3%) co-harbouring blaCTX-M-1 and blaTEM, and ten isolates (7.9%) co-harbouring blaCTX-M-1, blaTEM and blaSHV. A generalised linear model showed significant antibacterial activity of imipenem against different types of infection. Besides carbapenems, this study also demonstrated a satisfactory antibacterial activity of flomoxef (81.9%) on ESBL-EC, regardless of the types of ESBL genes.

  17. Fulltext BipD of Burkholderia pseudomallei: Structure, Functions, and Detection Methods
    Selvam K, Khalid MF, Mustaffa KMF, Harun A, Aziah I
    Microorganisms, 2021 Mar 30;9(4).
    PMID: 33808203 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040711
    Melioidosis is a severe disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei (B. pseudomallei), a Gram-negative environmental bacterium. It is endemic in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia, but it is underreported in many other countries. The principal routes of entry for B. pseudomallei are skin penetration, inhalation, and ingestion. It mainly affects immunocompromised populations, especially patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The laboratory diagnosis of melioidosis is challenging due to its non-specific clinical manifestations, which mimic other severe infections. The culture method is considered an imperfect gold standard for the diagnosis of melioidosis due to its low sensitivity. Antibody detection has low sensitivity and specificity due to the high seropositivity among healthy people in endemic regions. Antigen detection using various proteins has been tested for the rapid determination of B. pseudomallei; however, it presents certain limitations in terms of its sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, this review aims to frame the present knowledge of a potential target known as the Burkholderia invasion protein D (BipD), including future directions for its detection using an aptamer-based sensor (aptasensor).
  18. Fulltext Draft Genome Sequence of Clinical Isolate USM026 of the Pathogenic Yeast Candida parapsilosis
    Yamin D, Wan Juhari WK, Hanis Zainal Abidin NW, Mat-Sharani S, Harun A
    Microbiol Resour Announc, 2022 Nov 17;11(11):e0083922.
    PMID: 36314917 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00839-22
    Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a Candida parapsilosis clinical isolate (USM026) that was recovered from a blood sample from a patient who was treated for a catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). The draft genome is 12,839,916 bp in length, with 22,076,712 reads, 249 scaffolds, and 5,537 genes.
  19. Fulltext Draft Genome Sequence of Clinical Isolate USM039K of the Pathogenic Yeast Candida parapsilosis
    Yamin D, Wan Juhari WK, Hanis Zainal Abidin N, Mat-Sharani S, Harun A
    Microbiol Resour Announc, 2022 Nov 17;11(11):e0084122.
    PMID: 36301110 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00841-22
    Here, we announce the draft genome sequence of a Candida parapsilosis clinical isolate (USM039K) recovered from a patient with catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). The genome size is 12,860,016 bp long, with 188 scaffolds, a G+C content of 38.65%, and 5,467 genes.
  20. Fulltext Molecular Characterization of Leptospira spp. in Environmental Samples from North-Eastern Malaysia Revealed a Pathogenic Strain, Leptospira alstonii
    Azali MA, Yean Yean C, Harun A, Aminuddin Baki NN, Ismail N
    J Trop Med, 2016;2016:2060241.
    PMID: 27127522 DOI: 10.1155/2016/2060241
    The presence of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in the environment poses threats to human health. The aim of this study was to detect and characterize Leptospira spp. from environmental samples. A total of 144 samples comprised of 72 soil and 72 water samples were collected from markets and recreational areas in a north-eastern state in Malaysia. Samples were cultured on Ellinghausen and McCullough modified by Johnson and Harris media. Leptospires were positive in 22.9% (n = 33) of the isolates. Based on partial sequences of 16S rRNA, a pathogenic leptospire, Leptospira alstonii (n = 1/33), was identified in 3% of the isolates followed by intermediate leptospire (L. wolffii, n = 1/33, and L. licerasiae, n = 7/33) and nonpathogenic leptospire, L. meyeri (n = 22/33) in 24.2% and 66.7%, respectively. This study demonstrates the presence of a clinically significant pathogenic L. alstonii in the environments which could pose health risks to the occupants and visitors.
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