| CORRESPONDENCE |
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| Year : 2004 | Volume
: 22
| Issue : 1 | Page : 67 |
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Seroprevalence of leptospirosis in clinically suspected cases in Chennai city
N Jeyakumar , AA Khan , P Dhasarathan , AJ AR Singh
Department of Zoology, Sri Paramakalyani College, Alwarkurichi, Tamil Nadu - 627 412, India
Correspondence Address:
Department of Zoology, Sri Paramakalyani College, Alwarkurichi, Tamil Nadu - 627 412, India
How to cite this article:
Jeyakumar N, Khan A A, Dhasarathan P, Singh AA. Seroprevalence of leptospirosis in clinically suspected cases in Chennai city. Indian J Med Microbiol 2004;22:67 |
How to cite this URL:
Jeyakumar N, Khan A A, Dhasarathan P, Singh AA. Seroprevalence of leptospirosis in clinically suspected cases in Chennai city. Indian J Med Microbiol [serial online] 2004 [cited 2020 Nov 27];22:67. Available from: https://www.ijmm.org/text.asp?2004/22/1/67/8069 |
Dear Editor,
Microscopic and serological examination of blood samples collected from patients visiting hospitals in Chennai city with the complaints of jaundice, myalgia, persistent fever and conjunctivitis was done to determine prevalence of leptospirosis. A random sample of 150 persons (96 males and 54 females) of different age groups was collected during the period January to February 2002 by making periodic visits to three selected hospitals. Out of the 150 persons screened for leptospirosis, 70 persons were microagglutination test (MAT) positive for leptospiral infection.
Leptospires demonstrated by dark field microscopy (DFM) and Fontanna stain showed that among the 150 persons tested 12 were positive by DFM and 15 were positive by staining. Culture was positive in 27 cases. Serodiagnosis using MAT showed higher rate of leptospiral infection. The MAT titre ranged between 80-1280. The lower level of demonstration of leptospirosis by DFM, staining and culture methods were probably because the samples were taken during the first 10 days of illness.
Out of the 70 leptospiral positive cases 38 were males (54.29%) and 32 were females (45.7%). The prevalence of leptospirosis in relation to age and sex of the cases indicated a higher rate of infection in people in the age group 50-70 years than the other groups. More women were infected (45.71%) than men. Clinical cases suffering with jaundice and fever had high incidence of leptospiral infection (81.43%). Antibody titre (MAT) against the antigen of Leptospira interrogans serovar viz Icterohaemorrhagiae, louisiana and autumanlis was in the range 80-1280. Of the three types of serovars tested, the presence of Louisianna was greater (35.7%) than the other serovars. Ratnam had reported the highest antibody titre against L.interogans autumnalis.[1]
| ~ References | |  |
| 1. | Ratnam S. Serological evidence of leptospirosis in human population following an outbreak of the disease in cattle. Tns Rog Soc Trot Med Hyg 1983;77:94-98.  |
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