[Laboratory advances in serologic diagnosis and research of human leptospirosis in Cuba]

For the first time in Cuba the rapid serologic technologies available worldwide were evaluated for the screening and confirmation of human leptospirosis. As its clinical recognition is difficult, the fast etiological diagnosis is of vital importance. Sensitivity and specificity values higher than 90 % were obtained in the confirmatory systems, and of 85 % in the screening systems. Of the severe patients studied by these technologies 50 % were positive. 203 cases corresponding to 4 epidemic outbreaks were confirmed, as well as 12 sick persons vaccinated with vaxSPIRAL, which demonstrates the vaccine effectiveness (78.1%). We developed and applied a latex system for a rapid screening of leptospirosis (LeptoCuba), with an excellent sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and stability. The application of new technologies for the screening and fast confirmation of the disease allowed to increase the positivity and quality of the diagnosis from 2000 to 2006, strengthening the microbiological surveillance in the country.