Recognition of leptospirosis in dengue-suspected cases during dengue outbreak in Cear State, Brazil

Abstract

Dengue fever frequently presents with non specific symptoms, making it difficult to be distinguished from other acute febrile illnesses, including leptospirosis. Given this, serum samples from 82 patients with clinical features of dengue-like illness were evaluated for dengue infection by IgM-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Negative samples for dengue were tested for leptospirosis by IgM-ELISA and PCR. Dengue infection was detected in 35 patients. Six patients were positive to leptospirosis. This result shows that leptospirosis is underestimated in Ceara State, especially during epidemics of dengue with many reports, leading to an apparent low incidence of leptospirosis.