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Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol. 26, No. 2, April-June, 2008, pp. 206-207 Correspondence Leptospirosis Laboratory, Madras Medical College: Review of Our Experience (2004-2006) Sumathi G, Narayanan R, Shivakumar S Institute of Microbiology, Madras Medical College, Chennai - 600 003 Date of Submission: 25-Jul-2007 Code Number: mb08066 Dear editor, The Leptospira laboratory in Madras Medical College at Chennai was established in 1994. We have already published our experience during the period 1995-1997. [1] In this article, we discuss our experience during the period 2004-2006, with the samples received from public hospitals in Chennai. There has been a dramatic increase in the numbers of both samples and of positive cases, probably because of increased awareness of the illness [Table - 1]. These samples were from patients suffering from fever. During 2006, 2765 positive cases were reported from public sector hospitals. The data of numbers of samples and positive samples from city hospitals are shown in [Table - 2]. Government Stanley Hospital (GSH) caters to patients from North Chennai while Government Royapettah Hospital (GRH) caters to patients from south Chennai. Government General Hospital (GGH) and Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital (KMC) cater to patients from central Chennai and the surrounding areas. The Institute of Child Health (ICH) caters to children from all areas. Samples were received throughout the year and the data reveal that leptospirosis occurs throughout the year although the number may increase during the monsoon season (June to January). This emphasizes the importance of a polluted environment which is an important epidemiological risk factor. It has been our policy to do the macroscopic slide agglutination test (MSAT) as a screening test for all the samples received. All positive MSAT results are confirmed by the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT). [2],[3],[4] Nine pathogenic and one nonpathogenic serovars were included in antigen preparation. L.icterohaemorrhagiae, L. australis, L. grippotyphosa, L. pomona, L. sejroe, L. bataviae, L. louisiana, L. hebdomadis, L. javanica and L. patoc were the serovars used. The antigen was prepared using standard methods. [5] The common serovars found were L. icterohaemorrhagiae (48.0%) followed by L. australis (37.0%) and L. grippotyphosa (26.0%). During our study in 1995-1997, L. autumnalis (48.3%) was found to be the predominant serovar followed by L. icterohaemorrhagiae (31.1%). [1] Therefore, we conclude that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of leptospirosis cases reported in our laboratory during the period 2004-2006 and the common serovars are L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. australis and L. grippotyphosa. We also conclude that leptospirosis in Chennai occurs throughout the year. References
Copyright 2008 - Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology The following images related to this document are available:Photo images[mb08066t2.jpg] [mb08066t1.jpg] |
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