Abstract
We collected acute-phase serum samples from febrile patients at 2 major hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, during an outbreak of dengue fever in 2001. A total of 18% of dengue-negative patients tested positive for leptospirosis. The case-fatality rate among leptospirosis patients (5%) was higher than among dengue fever patients (1.2%).
Highlights
We collected acute-phase serum samples from febrile patients at 2 major hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, during an outbreak of dengue fever in 2001
Serum samples collected from a subset of patients during the first 5 days of illness were evaluated for dengue virus RNA by using reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR), as described previously [6]
Serum samples from patients with no dengue infection shown by antibody or RT-PCR testing were retrospectively assessed for leptospirosis by using a real-time PCR that amplifies the LipL32 gene [7], a virulence factor that is conserved among pathogenic Leptospira strains [8]
Summary
We collected acute-phase serum samples from febrile patients at 2 major hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, during an outbreak of dengue fever in 2001. An epidemic of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever began in Bangladesh in 2000 [4], and a surveillance system was established to identify patients with denguelike illness at 2 major hospitals in Dhaka. We hypothesized that leptospirosis might be a cause of illness among febrile patients who did not have dengue fever.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
