A NEW POSSIBILITY FOR SURVEILLANCE: DO WE IDENTIFY ALL CASES OF LEPTOSPIROSIS?

A leptospirose é doença febril tipicamente subestimada em todo o mundo, principalmente em áreas que a dengue se apresenta de forma endêmica. Desta forma, há limitações importantes na compreensão do número de casos de leptospirose nessas áreas, o que proporciona maior subnotificação. Neste estudo, apresentamos estimativa de possíveis casos de leptospirose a partir de casos de dengue-símile na cidade de Fortaleza, nordeste do Brasil, durante os anos de 2008, 2010 e 2012. Os pacientes foram investigados para dengue e leptospirose utilizando testes imunoezimáticos para detecção do anticorpo, da classe IgM, específicos para cada patologia. Entre os casos suspeitos de dengue, mas que não apresentaram resultado laboratorial positivo, 10,8%; 19,2% e 30,8% foram confirmados como leptospirose nos anos de 2008, 2010 e 2012; respectivamente. Considerando os casos notificados pela vigilância de dengue e que foram, posteriormente, descartados, baseados nos resultados dos testes laboratoriais, estimamos que o número atual de casos de leptospirose pode ser de 26 a 49 vezes mais do que o detectado e notificado pelos serviços de saúde. Além disso, acreditamos que aproximadamente 20% dos casos de dengue-símile podem ser de leptospirose, em áreas onde as duas doenças ocorram de forma endêmica.Leptospirosis is a febrile disease with a typically underestimated global incidence, especially in regions where dengue is endemic. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately determine the number of leptospirosis cases in these areas, which contributes to significant under-reporting this disease. In this study, we estimated the number of possible leptospirosis cases among dengue-like cases that were reported during 2008, 2010, and 2012 in the city of Fortaleza, northeast Brazil. Patients were evaluated for dengue and leptospirosis using immunoenzymatic tests for IgM antibodies that were specific to each pathogen. Among the suspected cases of dengue that resulted as negative in laboratory tests, 10.8% (2008), 19.2% (2010), and 30.8% (2012) were confirmed to be leptospirosis. Considering the cases reported by the surveillance authority as dengue that were subsequently discarded based on the laboratory test results, we estimate that the number of actual leptospirosis cases may be 26 to 49 times higher than those diagnosed and reported by the Health Services. Furthermore, we believe that approximately 20% of dengue-like cases may be leptospirosis cases in areas where the two diseases are endemic

Uma nova possibilidade de vigilância: identificamos todos os casos de leptospirose?

Leptospirosis is a febrile disease with a typically underestimated global incidence, especially in regions where dengue is endemic. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately determine the number of leptospirosis cases in these areas, which contributes to significant under-reporting this disease. In this study, we estimated the number of possible leptospirosis cases among dengue-like cases that were reported during 2008, 2010, and 2012 in the city of Fortaleza, northeast Brazil. Patients were evaluated for dengue and leptospirosis using immunoenzymatic tests for IgM antibodies that were specific to each pathogen. Among the suspected cases of dengue that resulted as negative in laboratory tests, 10.8% (2008), 19.2% (2010), and 30.8% (2012) were confirmed to be leptospirosis. Considering the cases reported by the surveillance authority as dengue that were subsequently discarded based on the laboratory test results, we estimate that the number of actual leptospirosis cases may be 26 to 49 times higher than those diagnosed and reported by the Health Services. Furthermore, we believe that approximately 20% of dengue-like cases may be leptospirosis cases in areas where the two diseases are endemic.A leptospirose é doença febril tipicamente subestimada em todo o mundo, principalmente em áreas que a dengue se apresenta de forma endêmica. Desta forma, há limitações importantes na compreensão do número de casos de leptospirose nessas áreas, o que proporciona maior subnotificação. Neste estudo, apresentamos estimativa de possíveis casos de leptospirose a partir de casos de dengue-símile na cidade de Fortaleza, nordeste do Brasil, durante os anos de 2008, 2010 e 2012. Os pacientes foram investigados para dengue e leptospirose utilizando testes imunoezimáticos para detecção do anticorpo, da classe IgM, específicos para cada patologia. Entre os casos suspeitos de dengue, mas que não apresentaram resultado laboratorial positivo, 10,8%; 19,2% e 30,8% foram confirmados como leptospirose nos anos de 2008, 2010 e 2012; respectivamente. Considerando os casos notificados pela vigilância de dengue e que foram, posteriormente, descartados, baseados nos resultados dos testes laboratoriais, estimamos que o número atual de casos de leptospirose pode ser de 26 a 49 vezes mais do que o detectado e notificado pelos serviços de saúde. Além disso, acreditamos que aproximadamente 20% dos casos de dengue-símile podem ser de leptospirose, em áreas onde as duas doenças ocorram de forma endêmica

A NEW POSSIBILITY FOR SURVEILLANCE: DO WE IDENTIFY ALL CASES OF LEPTOSPIROSIS?

SUMMARY Leptospirosis is a febrile disease with a typically underestimated global incidence, especially in regions where dengue is endemic. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately determine the number of leptospirosis cases in these areas, which contributes to significant under-reporting this disease. In this study, we estimated the number of possible leptospirosis cases among dengue-like cases that were reported during 2008, 2010, and 2012 in the city of Fortaleza, northeast Brazil. Patients were evaluated for dengue and leptospirosis using immunoenzymatic tests for IgM antibodies that were specific to each pathogen. Among the suspected cases of dengue that resulted as negative in laboratory tests, 10.8% (2008), 19.2% (2010), and 30.8% (2012) were confirmed to be leptospirosis. Considering the cases reported by the surveillance authority as dengue that were subsequently discarded based on the laboratory test results, we estimate that the number of actual leptospirosis cases may be 26 to 49 times higher than those diagnosed and reported by the Health Services. Furthermore, we believe that approximately 20% of dengue-like cases may be leptospirosis cases in areas where the two diseases are endemic

Evaluation of the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of patients with suspected dengue in Fortaleza - CearÃ, 2010

A dengue à transmitida por mosquitos hematÃfagos do gÃnero Aedes das espÃcies aegypti e albopictus. O vÃrus dengue (DENV) pertence à famÃlia Flaviviridae do gÃnero FlavivÃrus e possui quatro sorotipos que foram designados como: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 e DENV-4. A doenÃa pode manifestar-se como uma enfermidade infecciosa aguda, caracterizada por um amplo espectro clÃnico que varia desde formas de infecÃÃo assintomÃtica ou febre indiferenciada atà as formas graves, com hemorragia e/ou choque. Este estudo apresentou como objetivo descrever os aspectos epidemiolÃgicos, clÃnicos e laboratoriais de pacientes com suspeita de dengue atendidos no Hospital SÃo Josà de DoenÃas Infecciosas (HSJ) e no Hospital Nossa Senhora da ConceiÃÃo (HDNSC) no perÃodo de fevereiro a dezembro de 2010. Dessa forma, foram recrutados 93 pacientes, sendo que, 86 preencheram os critÃrios de inclusÃo. Os pacientes foram recrutados por busca ativa nas emergÃncias e nas enfermarias dos referidos hospitais e submetidos a um protocolo de acompanhamento por meio de uma ficha de avaliaÃÃo clÃnica inicial (1 ao 5Âdia de doenÃa) e de uma ficha de avaliaÃÃo subsequente (6 ao 7 dia de doenÃa). Foram realizadas pelo menos duas mensuraÃÃes de hematÃcrito, plaquetas, alÃm de exames bioquÃmicos e exames especÃficos para dengue. Os sinais e os sintomas mais prevalentes nos pacientes com suspeita de dengue foram: febre, cefaleia e mialgia. Vinte e cinco pacientes (29%) apresentavam manifestaÃÃes hemorrÃgicas espontÃneas, sendo que, as hemorragias cutÃneas (petÃquias e equimoses) foram as mais encontradas (15%). Quando avaliada a populaÃÃo feminina em idade reprodutiva, 6% apresentaram metrorragia. A prova do laÃo foi realizada em 80 pacientes, sendo positiva em 20 pacientes (25%). Dos 86 pacientes, 48 (55,8%) foram positivos para dengue por pelo menos uma das tÃcnicas: imunocromatografia NS1 (16%), RT-PCR (19%), ELISA IgM (44%), imunocromatografia IgM (42%) e ELISA NS1 (27%). O vÃrus dengue foi detectado em 16 pacientes, sendo, DENV-1 em 1 paciente (6,2%), DENV-2 em 14 pacientes (87,5%) e DENV-3 em 1 paciente (6,2%). Vinte e seis pacientes (54,1%) preencheram os critÃrios do MinistÃrio da SaÃde (MS) de Dengue ClÃssica (DC), 10 (20,8%) de Febre HemorrÃgica de Dengue (FHD) e 12 (25%) de Dengue com ComplicaÃÃo (DCC). A relaÃÃo entre sexo feminino e masculino foi de aproximadamente 1,1/1, com predomÃnio maior de adultos jovens. Quanto ao critÃrio de gravidade do MS, 60% dos casos suspeitos de dengue foram classificados como grau II e nenhum caso como grau IV. Dos critÃrios de extravasamento plasmÃtico preconizado pelo MS, a hipoalbuminemia esteve presente em 5 pacientes (10,4%). A queda do hematÃcrito acima de 20% apÃs hidrataÃÃo foi observada em apenas 4 pacientes (8,3%). No perÃodo do estudo, foram diagnosticados dois pacientes com dengue e leptospirose, sendo que um paciente complicou com pÃrpura trombocitopÃnica idiopÃtica, esses pacientes tiveram evoluÃÃo benigna. Portanto salientamos a necessidade de um diagnÃstico precoce, antes do desenvolvimento das manifestaÃÃes graves, de polÃticas de erradicaÃÃo do Aedes e da estruturaÃÃo de um serviÃo de referÃncia.Dengue is transmitted by blood-sucking mosquitoes of the species of the genus Aedes aegypti and albopictus. Dengue virus (DENV) belongs to the genus Flavivirus of the Flaviviridae family and has four serotypes that were designated as: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4. The disease can manifest as an acute infectious disease characterized by a wide clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic forms of infection or undifferentiated fever to severe forms, with bleeding and / or shock. This study had as objective to describe the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of patients with suspected dengue fever treated at the St Joseph Hospital of Infectious Diseases (HSJ) and the Hospital Nossa Senhora da ConceiÃÃo (HDNSC) in the period from February to December 2010. Thus, we recruited 93 patients, 86 met the inclusion criteria. Patients were recruited by an active search in emergencies and in the ward of these hospitals and underwent a follow-up protocol through an initial clinical evaluation form (from day 1 to day 5 of illness) and an evaluation form following (from the 6 to 7 day of illness). Were performed at least two measurements of hematocrit, platelets, and biochemical tests and specific tests for dengue. The signs and symptoms more prevalent in patients with suspected dengue were fever, headache and myalgia. Twenty-five patients (29%) had spontaneous bleeding manifestations and the cutaneous bleeding (petechiae and ecchymosis) were the most frequent (15%). When evaluating the female population of reproductive age, 6% had metrorrhagia. The tourniquet test was performed in 80 patients and was positive in 20 patients. Of 86 patients, 48 (55,8%) were positive for dengue at least one of the techniques: immunochromatography NS1 (16%), RT-PCR (19%), IgM ELISA (44%), IgM immunochromatography (42%) and NS1 ELISA (27%). The dengue virus was detected in 16 patient and, DENV-1 in 1 patient (6.2%), DENV-2 in 14 patients (87.5%) and DENV-3 in 1 patient (6.2%). Twenty- six patients (54,1%) met the criteria of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Classic Dengue (DC), 10 (20,8%) of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and 12 (25%) of Dengue with complication (DCC). The relationship bet ween females and males were approximately 1.1/1, with higher prevalence in young adults The criterion for severity of MOH, 60% of suspected dengue cases were classified as grade II and none as grade IV. Plasma extravasation of criteria recommended by MOH, hypoalbuminemia was present in 5 patients (10,4%). The drop in hematocrit higher than 20% after hydration was observed in only 4 patients (8,3%). During the study period, two patients were diagnosed with dengue and leptospirosis, and one patient complicated with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, these patients had a benign outcome. Therefore we stress the need for early diagnosis, before the development of severe manifestations, of policies to eradicate Aedes and structure a reference service

Serological evidence of leptospirosis in patients with a clinical suspicion of dengue in the State of Ceará, Brazil.

Introduction: Dengue and leptospirosis are two febrile illnesses of great clinical and epidemiological importance in Brazil. Their significant degree of symptomatic similarity makes clinical diagnosis difficult.Objective: To diagnose leptospirosis differentially in patients with clinically suspected dengue.Materials and methods: In this study, 86 patients with clinically suspected dengue underwent virological and serological diagnostic evaluations for dengue (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, NS1 immunochromatographic test, and NS1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA), as well as tests to detect immunoglobulin M (IgM; IgM/IgG Rapid Test and IgM ELISA). The same patients were subsequently evaluated for leptospirosis using Rapid Test IgG/IgM (Bioeasy®) and Leptospira IgM ELISA (PanBio®).Results: Of the 86 patients, 48 (55.8%) had positive results for dengue in at least one of the tests and five (7.35%) showed positive reactions for leptospirosis.Conclusion: During dengue epidemics, this disease may be misdiagnosed as other infections, including leptospirosis, when diagnosis is based on nonspecific clinical and laboratory criteria alone.Introducción. El dengue y la leptospirosis son dos enfermedades febriles de gran importancia clínica y epidemiológica en Brasil, y presentan una similitud sintomatológica significativa, lo cual dificulta el diagnóstico clínico.Objetivos. Hacer el diagnóstico diferencial para leptospirosis en pacientes con sospecha clínica de dengue.Materiales y métodos. En este estudio, 86 pacientes con sospecha clínica de dengue fueron sometidos a examen para el diagnóstico de dengue mediante pruebas de virología y serología (RT-PCR, prueba de inmunocromatografía NS1 y ELISA-NS1) y pruebas para la detección de IgM (prueba rápida IgM/IgG y ELISA-IgM). En los mismos pacientes también se evaluó la presencia de leptospirosis mediante la prueba rápida IgG/IgM (Bioeasy®) y ELISA IgM-Leptospira (PanBio®).Resultados. De los 86 pacientes, 48 (55,8 %) fueron positivos para dengue en, por lo menos, una de las pruebas y 5 (7,35 %) presentaron reacciones positivas para leptospirosis.Conclusión. Durante las epidemias de dengue, otras infecciones y entre ellas la leptospirosis, pueden dar lugar a confusiones cuando se el diagnóstico se hace únicamente con base en criterios inespecíficos clínicos y de laboratorio.Introduction: Dengue and leptospirosis are two febrile illnesses of great clinical and epidemiological importance in Brazil, demonstrating significant symptomatic similarity that makes clinical diagnosis difficult.Objectives: To differentially diagnose leptospirosis in patients with clinically suspected dengue.Materials and methods: In this study, 86 patients with clinically suspected dengue underwent virological and serological diagnostic evaluations for dengue (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, NS1 immunochromatographic test, and NS1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]), and tests to detect immunoglobulin M (IgM; IgM/IgG Rapid Test and IgM ELISA). Then, the same patients were also evaluated for leptospirosis using Rapid Test IgG/IgM (Bioeasy®) and Leptospira IgM ELISA (PanBio®).Results: Of the 86 patients, 48 (55.8%) had positive results for dengue in at least one of the tests and 5 (7.35%) showed positive reactions for leptospirosis.Conclusion: During dengue epidemics, diagnosis of dengue may be confused with other infections, among which is leptospirosis, when diagnosed only by using nonspecific clinical and laboratory criteria

A NEW POSSIBILITY FOR SURVEILLANCE: DO WE IDENTIFY ALL CASES OF LEPTOSPIROSIS?

SUMMARY Leptospirosis is a febrile disease with a typically underestimated global incidence, especially in regions where dengue is endemic. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately determine the number of leptospirosis cases in these areas, which contributes to significant under-reporting this disease. In this study, we estimated the number of possible leptospirosis cases among dengue-like cases that were reported during 2008, 2010, and 2012 in the city of Fortaleza, northeast Brazil. Patients were evaluated for dengue and leptospirosis using immunoenzymatic tests for IgM antibodies that were specific to each pathogen. Among the suspected cases of dengue that resulted as negative in laboratory tests, 10.8% (2008), 19.2% (2010), and 30.8% (2012) were confirmed to be leptospirosis. Considering the cases reported by the surveillance authority as dengue that were subsequently discarded based on the laboratory test results, we estimate that the number of actual leptospirosis cases may be 26 to 49 times higher than those diagnosed and reported by the Health Services. Furthermore, we believe that approximately 20% of dengue-like cases may be leptospirosis cases in areas where the two diseases are endemic