A comparative investigation and identification of Leptospira interrogans serogroup icterohaemorrhagiae strains by monoclonal antibody and DNA fingerprint analyses.

The identification of Leptospira interrogans icterohaemorrhagiae strains from a number of Reference Laboratories were confirmed using monoclonal antibody (MoAb) and DNA restriction endonuclease (EcoR1) analyses. With a few exceptions, strain fidelity was demonstrated. Three clinical isolates and one isolate from a rat (Rattus norvegicus) were identified on DNA fragment patterns and found to be similar to the reference strains, icterohaemorrhagiae copenhageni, I. "icterohaemorrhagiae" Ictero I and I. icterohaemorrhagiae RGA.