Assessment of Leptospira spp. on the Surface of Packaged Food and Canned Drinks

Leptospira are shed in the urine of infected animals such as rodents that cause kidney disease, liver disease or reproductive dysfunction in animals. Human can also be infected by Leptospira after contact with infected urine on the packaged food and canned drinks or through contact with contaminated water, soil or food. The purposes of this research is to assess the presence of Leptospira spp. on the surface of packaged food and canned drinks by using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, targeting on LipL32, 16S rRNA and rrs genes indicates pathogenic, intermediate and saprophytic Leptospira. A total of 30 packaged food and canned drinks samples were purchased randomly from a canteen at a public university, wet market, supermarket, mall, restaurant, Indian Street and Kuching Waterfront. The samples were cultured into Ellinghausen- McCullough-Johnson-Harris (EMJH) broth with 5-fluorouracil and incubated at room temperature (28-30 °C) for I month. The DNA isolation was conducted using Wizard Genomic DNA Purification Kit. Saprophytic Leptospira was detected on the surface of 27% (8/30) packaged food and canned drinks samples. All the 27% (8/30) isolates were classified as non-pathogenic species which were identified as Leptospira biflexa, Leptospira wolbachii and Leptospira spp. clone NP75. Thus, the findings of this study provide information on the occurrence and distribution of Leptospira spp. on the surface of packaged food and canned drinks. The packages and cans must be rinsed and cleaned before eating and drinking to prevent the possible transmission of Leptospira spp.