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MOLECULAR DETECTION OF PATHOGENIC LEPTOSPIRA IN PENSACOLA FLORIDA WATERSHEDS

Abstract

Fecal waste water containing high levels of nutrients and pathogenic bacteria is a growing public health concern in coastal zones. The ubiquity of leptospiral species in nature has led to leptospirosis becoming one of the most globally widespread zoonotic diseases in recent years. Annually there are more than 1.03 million cases reported, with approximately 60,000 of these cases resulting in death. The primary aim of this study was to determine if pathogenic Leptospira is present in fecal polluted streams and estuaries flowing through Pensacola Florida. A total of 14 out of 50 water samples were utilized in this study collected over the course of 1 sampling event, in March of 2022. To determine the extent of pathogenic Leptospira contamination, Real-Time polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR, was used targeting the Lipl32 gene. RT-PCR results indicated 2 of the 14 sampled locations, Carpenter creek and Tom king bayou east boulevard, were positive for pathogenic Leptospira. Additional research quantifying the amount of pathogenic Leptospira present in the Pensacola region is necessary to assess public health risk.

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