ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2016
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2016 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Efficiency of filtration technique for isolation of leptospires from surface waters: Role of different membranes with different pore size and materials
Hami Kaboosi1*, Mohammad Reza Razavi1,2 and Ashraf al Sadat Noohi1
1Department of Microbiology, Science and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, No. 69, Pasteur Ave., Tehran, Iran.
Accepted 25 January, 2016
Abstract
The objective of this research focused on evaluation of membrane filters application for isolation of Leptospira from surface water samples. The filter materials evaluated included nitrocellulose (0.22 and 0.45 µm pore diameters), polyvinylidene fluoride (Durapore 0.22 and 0.40 m pore diameters), nylon mesh (37 m), and glass fiber (1.0 µm). Millipore polyvinylidene fluoride filter (0.22 m) was examined by scanning electron microscopy to verify that leptospires were present following filtration. Our results suggest for isolate nearly 100% of Leptospira from water samples, the optimal pore diameter should be less than 0.45 µm (a standard pore size used to detect indicator microorganisms in 100 ml of water). Although filtration method can be used to isolation leptospires from surface water samples, it is unclear whether this is a useful method for detection of all leptospires exist within surface water samples. Accordingly, a large proportion of leptospires can be retained by membrane filter with a pore diameter commonly used to isolate leptospires from surface water samples (0.45 µm pore size).
Key words: Leptospira, filtration technique, leptospirosis.