Shaping the future of serotyping.

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging zoonosis caused by a diverse range of pathogenic , which are divided into species, serogroups and serovars. Although advances in genomics have recently refined species classification, serotyping, which is based on the antigenic variability of lipopolysaccharides O-antigens, still relies heavily on traditional and labour-intensive methods. In addition, the molecular basis of serovar diversity is not fully understood, which poses challenges for rapid and accurate serovar and/or serogroup identification. However, identification of serovars remains crucial for epidemiological studies, surveillance, diagnostics, understanding host-pathogen interactions and vaccine development. In this review, we assess current techniques for serovar and serogroup identification and explore emerging DNA-based methodologies for serovar and serogroup prediction.