Identification of a serogroup Bataviae Leptospira strain isolated from an ox in Zimbabwe

A strain belonging to the genus Leptospira serogroup Bataviae, isolated from an ox at slaughter in Zimbabwe, was identified by using cross-agglutinin absorption, the monoclonal antibody, restriction fragment length polymorphism, and polymerase chain reaction analyses. Results of both serological tests used showed that the isolate (strain SBF 37) was antigenically similar to reference strain Paidjan and therefore belongs to serovar paidjan. Strain SBF 37 was, however, genetically different from strain Paidjan since their chromosomal DNA had different restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns. The Zimbabwe paidjan strain was identified as belonging to the species Leptospira kirschneri while strain Paidjan reacted as a member of one of the non-kirschneri species in the polymerase chain reaction. The Zimbabwe isolate therefore belongs to Leptospira kirschneri serovar paidjan.