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J Parasit Dis Diagn Ther 2017

Volume 2 Issue 3

September 7-8, 2017 | Edinburgh, Scotland

International Conference on

Tropical Medicine, Infectious Diseases & Public Health

Notes:

Tropical Medicine 2017

Victoria Chalker, J Parasit Dis Diagn Ther 2017

LEPPTOSPIROSIS: THE USE OF MULTI

LOCUS SEQUENCE TYPING AND

DERRIVED SPECIES IDENTIFCATION

DIRECTLY ON CLINICAL SPECIMENS

eptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by

Pathogenic Leptospira. In the UK, Leptospirosis disease

and surveillance previously depended on laboratory data

from culture and the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT)

considered gold standard methods for detection of infection.

Traditional Leptospira species identification requires an

isolate, however culture is time-consuming taking several

weeks and requires significant laboratory expertise to

visualise live Leptospires. Indigenous and imported human

leptospirosis is detected in England and Wales, with 40-100

laboratory confirmed cases per year. It is likely that there

are further cases which are undiagnosed, particularly those

with milder manifestations. Small outbreaks are detected

intermittently, the most recent being a cluster of cases

associated with a triathlon in 2014. The combined clinical

diagnostic and reference service provided by the Rare and

Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL, PHE Porton) and the

Bacteriology Reference Department (BRD, PHE Colindale)

developed a nested MLST method for use directly on

clinical specimens that enables direct identification of the

species and simultaneous typing of pathogenic Leptospires.

Clinical DNA specimen extracts, submitted to the Leptospira

Reference Unit underwent 16s qPCR testing, MLST typing

and species identification. The reasons for referral ranged

from occupational exposure to holiday acquired infection

and common clinical symptoms included: flu like symptoms,

fever and kidney or liver symptoms.

Biography

Victoria Chalker studied Medical Microbiology BSc from the University of Newcastle,

quorum sensing PhD (Nottingham University/Umea University, Sweden) and

has worked on pathogen discovery from Royal Veterinary College, led Molecular

Microbiology Unit for UK NEQAS for Microbiology, gained Clinical Scientist status,

STI and respiratory bacterial infection specialist scientist Public Helath England and

is now Head, Respiratory & Vaccine Preventable Bacteria Reference Unit, PHE with

remit for several microbial genera including Streptococci, Legionella and Leptospira

and seconded to the Office of the Chief Scientific Officer, NHS England focussing on

diagnostics and antimicrobial resistance. She has more than 50 papers and 4 patents.

Vicki.chalker@phe.gov.uk

Victoria Chalker

Public Health England, United Kingdom