Development of a method to selectively isolate pathogenic Leptospira from environmental samples

Current isolation methods are incapable of selectively recovering pathogenic Leptospira from environmental samples which contain saprophytic Leptospira. In this study the Faine's Test and the Modified Faine's Test, both of which simulate internal body conditions, were evaluated to promote the growth of the pathogen in vitro while inhibiting the growth of the saprophyte. Only the saprophytic Leptospira were found to be inhibited by the test conditions provided. These tests were used for the isolation of pathogenic Leptospira from soil and stream water samples. Preliminary data suggest that Faine's Test and the Modified Faine's Test may be useful in serving this purpose.