IDENTIFICATION OF LEPTOSPIRES OF THE POMONA AND GRIPPOTYPHOSA SEROGROUPS ISOLATED FROM CATTLE IN ZIMBABWE

Two strains of the genus Leptospira, isolated from kidneys of oxen sla ughtered in Zimbabwe, one belonging to serogroup Pomona (strain SBF 8) and the other to serogroup Grippotyphosa (strain SBF 32), were identi fied by using cross-agglutinin absorption, monoclonal antibody, restri ction fragment length polymorphism and polymerase chain reaction analy ses. The identification of the two strains was equivocal. Strain SBF 8 showed a close similarity to both serovars mozdok and proechimys by c ross-agglutinin absorption tests and to serovar pomona by monoclonal a ntibody analysis, but had a distinct DNA restriction pattern. Strain S BF 32 showed a close antigenic similarity to serovars ratnapura, gripp otyphosa and valbuzzi by the cross-agglutinin absorption test, and to serovar ratnapura by monoclonal antibody analysis but also had a disti nct DNA restriction pattern. Both strains SBF 8 and SBF 32 reacted as members of species Leptospira kirschneri by the polymerase chain react ion. It is concluded that strains SBF 8 and SBF 32 represent new genet ic strains in the Pomona and Grippotyphosa groups, respectively.