Background: Leptospirosis is a febrile worldwide zoonosis. Routine diagnosis of leptospiral infection is based on demonstration of specific antibodies with serological tests. Performance of the reference serological test, the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), requires significant expertise. The aim of our study was to find out if leptospiral infection can be proven with simple, rapid, commercially available immunochromatographic Leptocheck test in order to introduce it for the first level diagnosis in emergency cases with less specialized laboratory staff.
Methods: In all, 590 serum samples of patients with clinical manifestations suggestive of leptospirosis were collected and tested with MAT and Leptocheck test. For confirmation of the results some other diagnostic methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Leptospira isolation were performed.
Results: Results of both serological tests were consistent in 576/590 (97.63%) cases but Leptocheck gave more positive results in comparison to MAT (36 and 12, respectively) at first patient's testing. Following up the patient, MAT became positive in majority of Leptocheck positive patients at first visit. Leptospiral DNA was detected in nine blood and six urine samples belonging to thirteen different patients while only two samples were culture positive.
Conclusion: In comparison with serological tests, PCR and culture have low sensitivity. According to our findings we conclude that Leptocheck test can prove leptospiral infection and could be used for rapid diagnosis of leptospirosis, later the sample should be confirmed with MAT.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00508-015-0853-0 | DOI Listing |
Anal Chem
July 2024
Nanomaterial Research Laboratory, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore 575 018, India.
Leptospirosis is a re-emerging infectious disease that presents a diagnostic enigma for clinicians with frequent misdiagnosis due to lack of rapid and accurate diagnostic tests, as the current methods are encumbered by inherent limitations. The development of a diagnostic sensor with a sample-in-result-out capability is pivotal for prompt diagnosis. Herein, we developed a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (spin-μPAD) featuring a sample-in-result-out fashion for the detection of specific urinary biomarker, sph2 sphingomyelinase, crucial for noninvasive point-of-care testing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Trop Med Hyg
January 2024
Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University Montpellier, Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, Établissement Français du Sang, Antilles University, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
Leptospirosis is presumably an important cause of non-malarial fever in West Africa. In this study, outpatients consulting in primary care clinics during the rainy season were tested for leptospirosis, and clinical characteristics associated with leptospirosis cases were explored. Patients with fever ≥ 39°C were recruited in nine primary health care centers in Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeliyon
October 2023
Department of Microbiology, Yenepoya Medical College, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore, 575 018, India.
Purpose: Leptospirosis is a perplexing mystification for many clinicians. Clinically often underdiagnosed due to lack of a rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic test. Currently available diagnostic tests have their own limitations; therefore, monitoring biomarkers that contribute an essential role in pathogenesis is crucial.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis
April 2022
International Medial University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The majority of leptospirosis is subclinical or mild self-limiting systemic illness. A rapid and accurate diagnostic test for the detection of leptospirosis is essential to prevent disease progression from acute non-severe illness to potentially fatal infection. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) recognized as point-of-care (PoC) tests may support clinical decision-making in resource-poor settings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS Negl Trop Dis
February 2021
Excellence Center for Critical Care Nephrology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
Background: Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have become widely used in low-resource settings for leptospirosis diagnostic. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the five commercially available RDTs to detect human IgM against Leptospira spp. in Thai population.
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