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Serological analysis of human leptospirosis in the Philippines
T Masuzawa1, L A Dancel, M Miyake
1Department of Microbiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan. masuzawa@u-shizuoka-ken.ac.jp
Abstract:
Leptospirosis in the Philippines is an underrepresented disease. To achieve an accurate means of serodiagnosis, we demonstrated antibodies to the prevalent Leptospira serovars in sera of 71 patients from three major hospitals in Manila by the microscopic agglutination test and Western blot analysis. Sera of 53 patients contained antibody against 8 serovars poi, tarassovi, manilae, pyrogenes, australis, grippotyphosa, javanica, and autumnalis.
Insights
Leptospirosis is underdiagnosed in the Philippines. This study identified antibodies against eight common Leptospira serovars in over 70% of patient sera, aiding serodiagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Leptospirosis is a significant neglected tropical disease, particularly in tropical regions like the Philippines.
- Accurate serodiagnosis is crucial for understanding the epidemiology and managing leptospirosis outbreaks.
- Previous studies have often underrepresented the disease burden and specific circulating serovars in the Philippines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the seroprevalence of Leptospira antibodies in patients from Manila, Philippines.
- To identify the prevalent Leptospira serovars responsible for infections in the region.
- To establish a more accurate serodiagnostic approach for leptospirosis in the Philippines.
Main Methods:
- Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) was employed to detect antibodies in patient sera.
- Western blot analysis was utilized for confirmation and serovar identification.
- Sera from 71 patients across three major Manila hospitals were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Antibodies against Leptospira were detected in 53 out of 71 (74.6%) patient sera.
- The prevalent serovars identified included poi, tarassovi, manilae, pyrogenes, australis, grippotyphosa, javanica, and autumnalis.
- This indicates a diverse range of circulating Leptospira serovars in the Philippines.
Conclusions:
- The findings highlight the underrepresentation of leptospirosis in the Philippines.
- The identified serovars are crucial for developing targeted diagnostic tools and vaccines.
- Accurate serodiagnosis using MAT and Western blot is feasible and essential for public health surveillance.