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Detection of Leptospira DNA in patients with aseptic meningitis by PCR

E C Romero1, A E Billerbeck, V S Lando

  • 1Department of Medical Biology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil. cobo@usp.br

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|May 9, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a highly sensitive method for detecting leptospires in aseptic meningitis patients. This molecular technique identified significantly more positive cases than traditional serological tests like the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and ELISA-IgM.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

  • Aseptic meningitis can be caused by various pathogens, including leptospires.
  • Accurate and early diagnosis of leptospirosis is crucial for effective treatment and preventing complications.
  • Traditional diagnostic methods for leptospirosis have limitations in sensitivity and speed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the diagnostic performance of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for detecting leptospires in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with aseptic meningitis.
  • To compare the sensitivity of PCR with conventional serological tests, namely the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Immunoglobulin M (ELISA-IgM).

Main Methods:

  • Cerebrospinal fluid samples from 103 patients diagnosed with aseptic meningitis were analyzed.
  • PCR was employed for the direct detection of leptospiral DNA.
  • Results were compared against Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) and ELISA-IgM for detecting anti-leptospiral antibodies.

Main Results:

  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) detected leptospires in 39.80% of the CSF samples.
  • Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) identified 8.74% of samples as positive.
  • ELISA-IgM showed the lowest positivity rate at 3.88%.

Conclusions:

  • PCR demonstrates superior sensitivity for the early detection of leptospires in CSF compared to MAT and ELISA-IgM in patients with aseptic meningitis.
  • Molecular methods like PCR offer a significant advantage in diagnosing leptospiral meningitis, potentially leading to earlier intervention.
  • Further research may explore the integration of PCR into routine diagnostic algorithms for suspected cases of leptospirosis.

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