IgM ELISA Research Articles

Evaluation of RUT, and ELISA Tests for Detection of Helicobacter pylori in Dyspeptic Patients Visiting a Tertiary Care Hospital, South India

Helicobacter pylori is main causative agent of acute gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. In certain population, this infection leads to gastric cancers viz., adenocarcinoma, and mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. The objective of this study was to comparatively evaluate invasive (RUT) and non-invasive (IgM and IgG ELISA) methods for detection of H. pylori infection among patients visiting a tertiary care hospital. A total of 285 dyspeptic patients undergoing endoscopic examination were included in this study. From each patient one biopsy specimen and serum samples were collected. Biopsy specimen was subjected to RUT and IgM & IgG ELISA tests were performed using serum samples. H. pylori was detected in 127 (44.6%) and 126 (44.2%) cases by RUT and IgM ELISA, respectively. H. pylori were detected in 85 (29.8%) samples by IgG ELISA. Based on the combination of RUT and IgM ELISA test, total 128 (44.9%) patients were positive for H. pylori infection. Most of the positive cases belonged to 21-40 years age group (60 of 128) followed by 41-60 years age group (31 0f 128). All the three diagnostic methods viz., RUT, IgM ELISA and IgG ELISA used in this study showed a greater prevalence of H. pylori infection in female gender compared to male gender. In this study, sensitivity of both RUT and IgM ELISA was similar across different age groups and gender. The advantage of IgM ELISA over RUT is that it does not require endoscopy. Therefore, IgM ELISA could be considered as safe and an alternative method for detection of this pathogen.

Scrub Typhus In A Tertiary Care Hospital In Chengalpattu District

Introduction: Orientia tsutsugamushi is the bacterium that causes scrub typhus. By being bitten by a larval trombiculid mite(chigger), it is transmitted. The incubation period is 10-14 days. Fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes rashes are the most common symptoms. The hallmark is the characteristic eschar lesion-scab at the site of chigger bite and regional lymphadenopathy. The severity of the illness varies from person to person ranging from fever to multi-organ involvement. Scrub typhus is diagnosed in the laboratory using serological tests such as ELISA IgM and Immunofluorescence IgM and molecular test -real-time PCR. Though the organism can be isolated using egg and cell culture is confined to the referral or research laboratories having biosafety level 3 facilities. The disease is managed with doxycycline or chloramphenicol and the organism does not respond to penicillins. Aim: To eloborate a case report of scrub typhus in a 41-year-old female patient in our tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: laboratory work up of a single patient with clinical suspicion of scrub typhus was carried out using TruNat,Molbio for detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi. All other differential diagnosis of fever including Dengue, were also evaluated to confirm the diagnosis Conclusion: Considering scrub typhus as differential diagnosis of fever is suggested.

The effects of a single and a series of Finnish sauna sessions on the immune response and HSP-70 levels in trained and untrained men

Background The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a Finnish sauna on the immune status parameters. The hypothesis was that hyperthermia would improve immune system’s functioning by changing the proportion of lymphocyte subpopulations and would activate heat shock proteins. We assumed that the responses of trained and untrained subjects would be different. Material and methods Healthy men (20–25 years old) were divided into groups: the trained (T; n = 10), and the untrained group (U; n = 10). All participants were subjected to 10 baths (each one consisted of: 3 × 15-minute exposure with cooled down for 2 min. Body composition, anthropometric measurements, VO2 peak were measured before 1st sauna bath. Blood was collected before the 1st and 10th sauna bath, and 10 min after their completion to asses an acute and a chronic effect. Body mass, rectal temperature and heart rate (HR) were assessed in the same time points. The serum levels of cortisol, Il-6, HSP70 were measured with use of ELISA method, IgA, IgG and IgM by turbidimetry. White blood cells (WBC), leukocyte populations counts: neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, and basophils were determined with use of flow cytometry as well as T-cell subpopulations. Results No differences were found in the increase in rectal temperature, cortisol and immunoglobulins between groups. In response to the 1st sauna bath, a greater increase in HR was observed in the U group. After the last one, the HR value was lower in the T group. The impact of sauna baths on WBC, CD56+, CD3+, CD8+, IgA, IgG and IgM was different in trained and untrained subjects’ responses. A positive correlation between the increase in cortisol concentrations and increase in internal temperatures after the 1st sauna was found in the T (r = 0.72) and U group (r = 0.77), between the increase in IL-6 and cortisol concentrations in the T group after the 1st treatment (r = 0.64), between the increase in IL-10 concentration and internal temperature (r = 0.75) and between the increase in IL-6 and IL-10 (r = 0.69) concentrations, also. Conclusions Sauna bathing can be a way to improve the immune response, but only when it is undertaken as a series of treatments.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E virus in children and adolescents living in urban Bogotá: An explorative cross-sectional study.

The majority of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV)-related studies are carried out in adults whereas information about HEV seroprevalence, clinical disease manifestation, molecular epidemiology, and transmission patterns in children is limited. To estimate HEV seroprevalence among scholar children living in an urban setting and to analyze risk factors for an infection, we invited children aged 5-18 years from Bogotá (Colombia) for a cross-sectional survey. We collected self-reported data on demographics, social, clinical, and exposure variables in a structured interview. Venous blood samples were analyzed with two commercially available ELISAs for HEV-specific IgG antibodies. Among the 263 participants, we found three HEV IgG-reactive samples (1.1%) using both assays. We additionally characterized the samples for HEV IgM using a commercially available IgM ELISA and for HEV RNA. Here, we found one IgM-reactive sample, which was also reactive for IgG. In contrast, none of the IgM- and IgG-reactive sera samples showed detectable RNA levels indicating HEV exposure had not been recently. All participants reported access to drinking water and sanitary systems in their households and frequent hand washing routines (76-88%). Eighty percent of children reported no direct contact with pigs, but occasional pork consumption was common (90%). In contrast to the majority of studies performed in Colombian adults, we found a low unadjusted HEV seroprevalence of 1.1% (95% CI: 0.3-3.6%) for both HEV IgG ELISAs in our study population. While the majority of participants reported pork consumption, we speculate in the absence of viral RNA for genotyping in the affected individuals, that existing access to drinking water and sanitary systems within our study group contribute to the low HEV seroprevalence.

Molecular-based study of scrub typhus in Kerala, South India from 2014 to 2021: a laboratory-based study.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00580-023-03443-8.

Seroprevalence of Chikungunya in an Asymptomatic Adult Population in North and South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Chikungunya (CHIK) is an emerging and reemerging infectious disease of public health importance in Indonesia. Information on the asymptomatic and true burden of CHIK virus (CHIKV) infections is limited. We assayed 1,092 healthy population samples, collected in North and South Sulawesi between 2019 and 2020, for antibodies against CHIKV. Blood samples were screened by IgM and IgG ELISAs and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. CHIKV IgG seroprevalence in North and South Sulawesi was 53.2% and 53.9%, respectively. The overall prevalence of anti-CHIKV IgM antibody was 12.9%. Molecular testing of blood donors revealed 0.66% (2/300) were positive for CHIKV qRT-PCR. Our study provides new insights into the CHIKV endemicity situation in the eastern part of Indonesia and warrants the need for further systematic surveillance considering there is no treatment or vaccine for CHIK infection.

Dengue Burden and Circulation of Dengue-2 Serotype Among Children Along With Clinical Profiling in Uttarakhand, India: A Cross-Sectional Study From 2018 to 2020.

The multiple serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV) are always a major public concern for dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). This study aimed to analyse the demographic characteristics and circulating serotypes of dengue among the paediatric age group. One hundred forty-one clinically suspected children were enrolled in the study from 2018 to 2020 in a tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand, India. Central tendency, frequency, and One-Way ANOVA were measured for continuous and categorical data. The Shapiro-Wilks test was used to calculate the normality assumption. Dengue NS1 Ag, IgM, and IgG antibodies ELISA were performed, and NS1-positive samples were further tested for molecular studies. From one hundred forty-one suspected cases, 100 (70.92%) came positive for dengue NS1 antigen, 18 (12.76%), and three (2.12%) came positive for IgM and IgG antibodies respectively. Rest 20 (14.18%) samples came negative for dengue. Fever with chills (97.5%), headache (89%), and arthralgia (82%) were the most common clinical features. Molecular studies showed the dengue serotype-2 (DEN-2) was found in most cases, followed by the dengue-3 serotype (DEN-3). This is the preliminary study as the authors' best knowledge which demonstrate the burden of dengue in children with prevalent serotypes for consecutive three yearsin Uttarakhand. This study identifies that the serotype-2 (DEN-2) of the dengue virus was the primary cause of infection in children at the tertiary care hospital in northern India. These results will help further to understand the nature of the disease so that improved patient care management will imply. Further molecular studies on large sample sizes during the endemic would be helpful to gain knowledge of the actual load of the disease and the genetic characteristics of the virus.

Sero-molecular epidemiology of Japanese encephalitis virus in swine population of western Uttar Pradesh, India: Unraveling the geographical expansion of the virus.

Swine is a good sentinel for forecast of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) outbreaks in humans. The present study was envisaged with objectives to know the sero-conversion period of JEV and to assess the prevalence of JEV in swine population of western Uttar Pradesh state of India. A total of 252 swine serum samples were screened using IgM ELISA over the period of one year to determine the sero-conversion rate and compared seasonally to check the transmission peak of virus. Further, 321 swine blood and serum samples were collected from all seven divisions of western Uttar Pradesh to determine prevalence of JEV using real time RT-PCR and ELISA. Seasonal sero-conversion rate was high during monsoon and post-monsoon (32%) followed by winter (22.91%) and summer (10.71%) seasons. The sero-conversion was observed in all months indicating viral activity throughout the year in the region. The low degree of correlation was found between meteorological variables (day temperature, rainfall) and sero-conversion rate. A total of 52 samples (16.19%) were found positive by real time RT-PCR while sero-positivity of 29.91% was observed using IgG and IgM ELISA(s). The overall prevalence of JEV was 39.25%. The presence of JEV was recorded throughout the year with peak occurrence during monsoon and post-monsoon season indicating that virus has spread its realm to western region of the state. The information generated in the present study will aid in initiating timely vector control measures and human vaccination program to mitigate risk of JEV infection in the region.

Recent and past toxoplasmosis infections, associated factors, and awareness among pregnant women in Nigeria

Objectives: The study determined the rate of recent and past Toxoplasma gondii infections, associated factors, and awareness among expectant mothers assessing antenatal care in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted among pregnant women. A questionnaire was used to gather information on socio-demographics, infection risk factors, and awareness of the infection. Using an ELISA kit, the IgG and IgM antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii were assessed in blood samples from these women. For samples that tested positive for IgM, a real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify the DNA. SPSS version 23 was used for data entry and analysis. The p-value < 0.05 was adjudged to be significant. Results: A total of 250 pregnant women participated in the study. The rate of recent infection (IgM antibody positivity) was 3.6% (9/250), while past infection (IgG antibody positivity) was 68.4% (171/250). Polymerase chain reaction confirmed 5/9 recent infections as positive. Factors significantly associated with toxoplasmosis were gardening ( p = 0.037) and undercooked meat ( p = 0.023). Only 27 out of 250 pregnant women in this research had heard of toxoplasmosis, which translates to a low awareness rate of 10.8%. Conclusions: The recent infection among pregnant women in this study indicates the possibility of mother-to-child transmission with attendant sequelae. There was a significant association between past Toxoplasmosis gondii infections and stillbirth. Routine screening for toxoplasmosis should be incorporated into the antenatal program since none of the symptoms could significantly predict illness. In addition, regular antennal care instruction should cover toxoplasmosis education.

LEPTOSPIROSIS: A NEGLECTED DISEASE FROM NORTH INDIA

Introduction: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Leptospira interrogans and has been reported from various countries worldwide. As very few studies were conducted on leptospirosis from north India, this study was conducted to know the status of this disease in this region. This retrospective hospital Material & Methods: based study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology of a tertiary care super specialty teaching institute from north India for a period of two consecutive years. Blood specimens from acute febrile illness cases were tested for presence of IgM antibodies against Leptospira interrogans by rapid card (Leptocheck from TULIP) testing and ELISA (Leptospira IgM ELISA from PanBio). Out of total 216 samples Results: collected and included in this study, 40 were found to be positive for presence of IgM antibodies against Leptospira interrogans. Seropositivity for leptospirosis was observed to be 19%. Maximum number of patients were from economically productive age groups, 31-40 years of age group followed by 21-30 and 41-50 years of age groups. CONCLUSION: Leptospirosis was found to be a major cause of acute febrile illness from north India. It is neglected and under reported from most of the regions of India due to lack of clinician's suspicion. More studies with more samples are required on leptospirosis from this region to reach on nal conclusion.

Epidemiology and clinico-laboratory manifestations of scrub typhus in Hadoti region of Rajasthan, India: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To study epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and laboratory parameters of scrub typhus in Hadoti region of Rajasthan, India.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 patients with scrub typhus between August 2022 and November 2022. Scrub typhus was diagnosed by ELISA IgM scrub typhus antibody. The data about demography, vital parameters, and lab investigations were collected and analyzed.Results: Ninety-two percent of the patients were from a rural background (92%), 86% were farmers and the majority were females. Most patients were 40-60 years old. The major complaints were fever (100%), myalgia (100%), headache (82%), and body swelling (80%). Major complications were pneumonia (68%), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (62%), hepatitis (44%), and acute kidney injury (42%). Triglyceride levels were >200 mg/dL in 80% of patients, albumin <3.5 g/dL in 98% and eschar mark was present in 24% of patients.Conclusions: Scrub typhus is a serious acute febrile illness that can lead to multi-organ dysfunction and is associated with significant mortality. Increasing awareness regarding disease in endemic regions, early screening of patients, and treatment as early as possible could help prevent the patient from severe life-threatening complications.

A Use of 56-kDa Recombinant Protein of Orientia tsutsugamushi Karp Serotype in Serodiagnosis of Scrub Typhus by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay in Thais.

Scrub typhus is a mite-borne disease caused by a Gram-negative obligately intracellular bacillus, Orientia tsutsugamushi. The disease is endemic in the Asia-Australia-Pacific region, including Thailand. Scrub typhus generally manifests as acute undifferentiated febrile fever along with myalgia, rash, and lymphadenopathy. An eschar can be a valuable diagnostic clue, but this skin lesion may be missed in some patients. The disease symptoms resemble those of other febrile illnesses such as leptospirosis, typhoid, murine typhus, malaria, and dengue fever, making a laboratory diagnosis necessary for the definitive diagnosis. In this study, we expressed a recombinant protein derived from 56-kDa type-specific antigen of O. tsutsugamushi Karp serotype and tested its ability to detect and differentiate scrub typhus infection. IgM and IgG antibodies were determined in sera from scrub typhus (n = 92) and other febrile illness patients (murine typhus (n = 25), melioidosis (n = 36), leptospirosis (n = 42), and dengue (n = 35)) from Thailand. Sensitivities of 87.0% and 59.8% with a specified assay cut-off were obtained for IgM and IgG indirect ELISAs, respectively, with a specificity of 100% in both tests. The sensitivity was increased to 95.7% when a combination of IgM and IgG ELISAs results was considered. Our study suggested a potential of the 56-kDa recombinant protein for further development and evaluation for use in scrub typhus serodiagnosis.

Comparative Efficacy of Various Diagnostic Modalities for Confirming Acute Dengue Viral Infection Against 04 Serotypes

Background &amp; Introduction: Dengue viral infection is a Global health problem. In the absence of vaccine and anti-viral, early diagnosis and management harbors great significant. Therefore the current systematic review was planned to identify the most accurate diagnostic modality for acute infection. Objective: To compare the efficacy of various lab diagnostic tests for confirming acute dengue viral infection against 04 serotypes. Methodology: This systematic review was carried out by following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Final sample size was 07 (N). However it was extracted by narrowing down 24 (n) studies by four steps i.e identification, screening, eligibility and inclusion criteria. Latest published researches form last five years were included by using various search engines e.g Pubmed, Pakmedinet, Cochrane data base, Google scholar and open google search. Results: Out of 07(N) studies, three (n=04) strongly supported that diagnostic efficacy was highest for RT – PCR followed by NS1 Ag ELISA and than IgM ELISA. One (n=01) study emphasized single-tag hybridization-printed array strip (STH-PAS), a most accurate rapid diagnostic test. In one more study rapid diagnostic test (RDTs) was correlated with the economical burden for surveillance system. Conclusion: It is concluded that diagnostic accuracy from highest to lowest is for RTPCR &gt; NS1 ELISA&gt;IgM ELISA

Analysis of a Dengue Virus Outbreak in Rosso, Senegal 2021.

Senegal is hyperendemic for dengue. Since 2017, outbreaks have been noticed annually in many regions around the country, marked by the co-circulation of DENV1-3. On 8 October 2021, a Dengue virus outbreak in the Rosso health post (sentinel site of the syndromic surveillance network) located in the north of the country was notified to the WHO Collaborating Center for arboviruses and hemorrhagic fever viruses at Institut Pasteur de Dakar. A multidisciplinary team was then sent for epidemiological and virologic investigations. This study describes the results from investigations during an outbreak in Senegal using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for the combined detection of dengue virus non-structural protein 1 (NS1) and IgM/IgG. For confirmation, samples were also tested by real-time RT-PCR and IgM ELISA at the reference lab in Dakar. qRT-PCR positive samples were subjected to whole genome sequencing using nanopore technology. Virologic analysis scored 102 positives cases (RT-PCR, NS1 antigen detection and/or IgM) out of 173 enrolled patients; interestingly, virus serotyping showed that the outbreak was caused by the DENV-1, a serotype different from DENV-2 involved during the outbreak in Rosso three years earlier, indicating a serotype replacement. Nearly all field-tested NS1 positives samples were confirmed by qRT-PCR with a concordance of 92.3%. Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of strains suggested a re-introduction in Rosso of a DENV-1 strain different to the one responsible for the outbreak in the Louga area five years before. Findings call for improved dengue virus surveillance in Senegal, with a wide deployment of DENV antigenic tests, which allow easy on-site diagnosis of suspected cases and early detection of outbreaks. This work highlights the need for continuous monitoring of circulating serotypes which is crucial for a better understanding of viral epidemiology around the country.

Seroprevalence of Cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in some selected hospitals in Lokoja Metropolis, Kogi State, Nigeria

Cytomegalovirus is one of the most common viruses which causes congenital defects in babies from infected mothers. Sensoneural hearing loss (SNHL) and neurodevelopmental delay are typical occurrences in childhood resulting from congenital defects which presents no symptoms at birth. The aim of this study was to determine the cytomegalovirus IgM infection among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at KSSH and FMC in Lokoja metropolis, Kogi State, Nigeria. A total of 184 serum samples were collected and analyzed using CMV IgM ELISA kit diagnostic Automation, INC (USA). The study revealed that out of the 184 samples collected, 40 turned out positive for CMV IgM antibodies giving a prevalence of 21.7% while the negative sample result had a prevalence of 78.3%. a total of 92 samples each was collected from both hospitals; KSSH had 30 CMV IgM positive samples having a percentage 32.6% and FMC with 10 CMV IgM having a percentage of 10.86%. Based on the research, there was no significant association between the risk factors such as marital status, type of marriage, occupation and scarification related to the infection. This could be due to the limited number in sample size. Other socio-economic factors that had statistical significant p value with the infection were education (0.035), hand wash (0.027) and previous history of blood transfusion (0.003). The study has shown the need for sensitization of the populace especially to pregnant women, the need for constant and proper personal hygienic practices be done to reduce the risk of infection and possibly stop its transmission to fetus. In addition, inclusion of screening for cytomegalovirus antibodies among blood donors may be useful tool in preventing transmission of cytomegalovirus to blood recipients.

Prevalence of anti-leptospiral IgM and detection of pathogenic Leptospira species DNA in neonates presenting with clinical sepsis in Southwestern Uganda

BackgroundLeptospirosis is an emerging neglected zoonotic disease that presents with nonspecific signs/symptoms and it can be mistaken for other diseases. Owing to limited diagnostic capacity and unawareness, the data on human leptospirosis particularly in neonates are scarce in many sub-Saharan countries. It has been underreported hindering preventive and control measures in place. The study aimed at determining prevalence of leptospirosis as a cause of febrile illness in neonates using IgM ELISA and a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR).MethodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study that included 103 neonatal sepsis cases whose parents/legal guardians gave informed consent. The data on demographic and clinical characteristics were collected using structured data collection form. EDTA whole blood sample was collected from the neonates by trained study nurses. From the samples, IgM ELISA was done using automated analyzers, DNA extracted and qPCR was performed using primers for LipL32, specific for the pathogenic leptospires.ResultsThe prevalence of anti-leptospiral IgM among the neonates as determined by ELISA was 4.3%, where all of them presented with lethargy and poor feeding. No pathogenic Leptospira species DNA was amplified by qPCR.ConclusionsEvidence of leptospirosis was demonstrated in neonatal sepsis cases in this study. The findings suggest considerations of leptospirosis in the differential diagnosis of neonates with sepsis. More data are needed on the real epidemiology, clinical features, and burden of leptospirosis in neonates. There is need to include intermediate pathogenic species of Leptospira in the diagnostic qPCR assays.

Clinical profile and outcomes of Scrub typhus in pregnant women presenting to a tertiary care hospital of North India

Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is a re-emerging endemic zoonosis in the Asia Pacific region. It is a febrile condition ranging in severity from mild to severe, with fatality rates as high as 30%. The present study aims towards analysing the clinical profile and pregnancy outcomes in 27 cases of scrub typhus admitted to a tertiary care centre in North India. The medical records of 27 pregnant women who had scrub typhus were analysed. The IgM ELISA was used to look for IgM antibodies to Orientia tsutsugamushi in the patient’s serum sample. An optical density of more than or equal to 0.468 was considered as positive. Majority of the pregnant females delivered healthy and live babies. However, poor foetal outcomes were observed in four (14.8%) cases with intrauterine deaths occurring in two (7.4%) cases and still birth in one (3.7%) case, while one (3.7%) patient had spontaneous abortion. Maternal mortality was reported in one patient (3.7%) due to a delay in diagnosis. In endemic settings, a strong index of suspicion for scrub typhus is necessary in pregnant females presenting with fever. The key to reducing morbidity in both the mother and foetus is early diagnosis and treatment. Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? Scrub typhus is a febrile condition ranging in severity from mild to severe, with 30% mortality in untreated patients. What do the results of this study add? Majority of the pregnant females delivered healthy and live babies. However, poor foetal outcomes were observed in four (14.8%) cases with intrauterine deaths occurring in two (7.4%) cases and still birth in one (3.7%) case, while one (3.7%) patient had spontaneous abortion. Maternal mortality was reported in one patient (3.7%) due to a delay in diagnosis. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In endemic settings, a strong index of suspicion for scrub typhus is necessary for pregnant females presenting with fever. The key to reducing morbidity in both the mother and foetus is early diagnosis and treatment.

To estimate the prevailing Serotype of dengue virus and IgM antibody in suspected dengue fever cases

Dengue virus infection a vector borne disease affecting more than 50 million people worldwide annually. It is distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, abundant in urban and semi-urban areas. It is the disease that spreads by bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The virus being a RNA virus belongs to Flaviviridae family. The four serotypes of Dengue virus are DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4 which have distinct antigenicity complex.This study was conducted in Microbiology Department, Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai, during the period Jan 2018 to Dec 2018 with 120 blood samples from patients of suspected dengue fever. Samples were selected by stratified random sampling method into three strata and each strata consisting of 40 samples based on duration of fever. All the samples were subjected to procedure for both NS1 antigen and IgM antibodies.15 NS1 positives samples with duration of fever less than 5 days were serotyped by PCR. : A total of 18 cases had NS1 antigen, 26 cases had IgM antibodies and 27 cases had both. A combination of the two tests detected a total of 44 cases. The chance of detection of NS1antigen decreased with duration of fever and IgM antibodies increased with duration of fever. The serotyping detected were DENV1 and DENV3 NS1 antigen detection by ELISA is useful in early phase of infection. A combination of NS1 ELISA and IgM ELISA have high sensitivity depending upon the duration of illness. Detection of DENV1 and DENV3 by PCR procedure helps to know the presence of prevailing serotype in this particular region which would be a good guide to predict the recurrence of outbreak and for efficient prevention and management.

Clinical Spectrum and Outcome of Scrub Typhus Patients in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital of Western Maharashtra

Introduction: Acute febrile illness (AFI) is the most common presenting complaint in the emergency and outpatient clinics in developing countries. Scrub typhus is currently one of the most covert re-emerging infections and it is one of the commonly occurring rickettsial diseases in India. Objectives: To determine the clinical profile and outcome of scrub typhus patients admitted at a tertiary care centre of western Maharashtra for treatment. Material and Method: Present descriptive cross sectional study conducted over period of three years from October 2019 to October 2022. Study commenced after obtaining Institutional Ethical Permission (IEC). Clinically suspected patients undergone Weil-Fliex test followed by IgM ELISA for confirmation of diagnosis. Total 148 patients were included as inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Out of 148 patients 58.10% (86) and 41.89% (62) were male and female respectively. The commonest age group of patients was 21 to 30 years. Fever was the most common (81.75%) symptom and eschar (skin lesion) was seen in 16.21% (24) patients. Conclusion: Scrub typhus is an important cause of undifferentiated acute febrile illness should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pyrexia of unknown. Adequate knowledge about demographic and clinical profile scrub typhus helps in early diagnosis.

A CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY ON LEPTOSPIROSIS IN WEST BENGAL: A NEGLECTED CAUSE OF ACUTE FEBRILE ILLNESS

Introduction: Leptospirosis is a major neglected public health problem and is highly underreported in India. It is a common cause of the acute febrile illness (AFI), but accurate diagnosis is quite challenging and often delayed because of overlapping symptoms with many other infectious diseases, and limited access to laboratory diagnosis. The aim Aim: of the study was to assess the proportion of Leptospira infection among patients suffering from AFI in West Bengal and to analyse socio-demographic characteristics, clinical features, and laboratory parameters of leptospirosis cases. Materials and methods: Serum samples were collected from 350 hospital-admitted patients suffering from AFI (fever &gt;five days ≤ two weeks) but without any identifiable cause and tested for Leptospira IgM using PanBio Leptospira IgM ELISA kit. Clinical features, laboratory parameters and epidemiological data were collected from each patient and analysed. 91(26%) out of 350 fever cases tested positive for Leptospira IgM ELISA. Most of them were Result: male and belonged to the age group of 31–60 years (42.85%) and 16–30 years (30.76%). Common symptoms were fever (100%) myalgia (76.92%), headache (70.32%), icterus (69.23%), vomiting (67.03%) and pain abdomen (65.93%). Conclusion: Leptospirosis is a common cause of acute undifferentiated febrile illness in West Bengal. Our findings demonstrated the importance of active surveillance of leptospirosis among cases of acute febrile illness to facilitate its early detection and prevention of complications.