Diagnostic method-based underestimation of leptospirosis in clinical and research settings; an experience from a large prospective study in a high endemic setting

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 16; no. 4; p. e0010331
• Main Authors: Warnasekara, Janith, Srimantha, Shalka, Kappagoda, Chamila, Jayasundara, Dinesha, Senevirathna, Indika, Matthias, Michael, Agampodi, Suneth, Vinetz, Joseph M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.04.2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Agglutination; Agglutination tests; Agglutination Tests - methods; Antibodies; Antigens; Biological analysis; Biological properties; Biological samples; Biology and Life Sciences; Blood; Care and treatment; Culture; Diagnosis; Diagnostic systems; Diagnostic tests; Epidemiology; Fever; Health surveillance; Humans; Leptospira - genetics; Leptospirosis; Leptospirosis - diagnosis; Leptospirosis - epidemiology; Medical tests; Medicine and Health Sciences; Methods; Morbidity; Nosocomial infections; Nucleotide sequence; Patients; PCR; Polymerase chain reaction; Prospective Studies; Public health; Retrospective Studies; Risk factors; Samples; Serology; Serum; Teaching hospitals; Testing; Tropical diseases; Urine; Sri Lanka

Leptospirosis has globally significant human mortality and morbidity, yet estimating the clinical and public health burden of leptospirosis is challenging because timely diagnosis remains limited. The goal of the present study was to evaluate leptospirosis undercounting by current standard methods i...