In vitro determination of 5-flurouracil as a selective agent for leptospiral culture medium

Abstract

The bacteria Leptospira is a slender delicate spirochete that will grow in the enriched culture medium comprised of rich nitrogen, vitamin and mineral complex. The main objective of this study is to find out the effect of 5- fluorouracil (5FU) on culturing and maintaining leptospires without contamination. Eight groups of culture media with and without 5FU (six test groups and 2 controls) were prepared and inoculated with leptospires. The results highlighted that culture medium with 5FU in screw capped tubes of both initial 30 minutes opening and not showed any contamination. Very less contamination found in the screw capped tubes without 5FU and cotton plugged tubes with 5FU. But the cotton plugged tubes and screw capped tubes that open in the initial 30 minutes without 5FU showed complete contamination. Thus this study proved the need and importance of 5FU as a selective agent in the isolation and maintenance of leptospires in the laboratory conditions.