Evidence of human leptospirosis cases in a cohort of febrile patients in Bangui, Central African Republic: a retrospective study, 2012–2015
Abstract Background In spite of a local favorable environment, leptospirosis has never been described in Central African Republic so far mainly because of the weakness of diagnostic tests and differential diagnostic strategy for febrile jaundice cases negative for yellow fever virus. Here we bring a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-018-3298-z |
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| author | Pierre-Alain Rubbo Marie-Estelle Soupé-Gilbert Davy Martial Golongba Florent Mbombo Dominique Girault Emmanuel Nakouné Jean-Pierre Lombart Sébastien Breurec Cyrille Goarant |
| author_facet | Pierre-Alain Rubbo Marie-Estelle Soupé-Gilbert Davy Martial Golongba Florent Mbombo Dominique Girault Emmanuel Nakouné Jean-Pierre Lombart Sébastien Breurec Cyrille Goarant |
| author_sort | Pierre-Alain Rubbo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In spite of a local favorable environment, leptospirosis has never been described in Central African Republic so far mainly because of the weakness of diagnostic tests and differential diagnostic strategy for febrile jaundice cases negative for yellow fever virus. Here we bring a complementary insight to conclusions of Gadia CLB et al. regarding the presence of leptospirosis in Central African Republic in YFV-negative febrile icteric patients. Methods Our study included 497 individuals presenting with fever and jaundice but negative for yellow fever infection, retrospectively selected from the national surveillance biobank for yellow fever in Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Central African Republic. A combination of serological (ELISA, agglutination) and molecular biology techniques (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) was used to identify Leptospira or the patient’s immune response to the bacteria. Statistical analyses were done using the non parametric Mann-Withney U test with a 5% statistical threshold. Results ELISA test results showed 46 positive serum samples while 445 were negative and 6 remains equivocal. In addition, the reference microscopic agglutination test for leptospirosis diagnostic confirmed that 7 out of 32 samples tested were positive. Unfortunately, all 497 serum samples tested for leptospirosis were negative using the molecular techniques. Conclusions Unlike Gadia et al., we confirmed that leptospirosis is circulating in Central African Republic and therefore may be responsible for some of the unexplained cases of febrile jaundice in the country. Thus, leptospirosis needs to be investigated to improve identification of aetiological pathogens. Our study also suggests a need to improve sample transportation and storage conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T02:40:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-92be0c5da77c4388969a5614b2df624a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T02:40:35Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-92be0c5da77c4388969a5614b2df624a2022-12-21T19:56:20ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342018-08-011811410.1186/s12879-018-3298-zEvidence of human leptospirosis cases in a cohort of febrile patients in Bangui, Central African Republic: a retrospective study, 2012–2015Pierre-Alain Rubbo0Marie-Estelle Soupé-Gilbert1Davy Martial Golongba2Florent Mbombo3Dominique Girault4Emmanuel Nakouné5Jean-Pierre Lombart6Sébastien Breurec7Cyrille Goarant8Institut PasteurInstitut PasteurInstitut PasteurInstitut PasteurInstitut PasteurInstitut PasteurInstitut PasteurUniversity Hospital of Pointe-à-Pitre/Abymes and University of AntillesInstitut PasteurAbstract Background In spite of a local favorable environment, leptospirosis has never been described in Central African Republic so far mainly because of the weakness of diagnostic tests and differential diagnostic strategy for febrile jaundice cases negative for yellow fever virus. Here we bring a complementary insight to conclusions of Gadia CLB et al. regarding the presence of leptospirosis in Central African Republic in YFV-negative febrile icteric patients. Methods Our study included 497 individuals presenting with fever and jaundice but negative for yellow fever infection, retrospectively selected from the national surveillance biobank for yellow fever in Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Central African Republic. A combination of serological (ELISA, agglutination) and molecular biology techniques (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) was used to identify Leptospira or the patient’s immune response to the bacteria. Statistical analyses were done using the non parametric Mann-Withney U test with a 5% statistical threshold. Results ELISA test results showed 46 positive serum samples while 445 were negative and 6 remains equivocal. In addition, the reference microscopic agglutination test for leptospirosis diagnostic confirmed that 7 out of 32 samples tested were positive. Unfortunately, all 497 serum samples tested for leptospirosis were negative using the molecular techniques. Conclusions Unlike Gadia et al., we confirmed that leptospirosis is circulating in Central African Republic and therefore may be responsible for some of the unexplained cases of febrile jaundice in the country. Thus, leptospirosis needs to be investigated to improve identification of aetiological pathogens. Our study also suggests a need to improve sample transportation and storage conditions.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-018-3298-zLeptospirosisBacteriaInfectionCentral African RepublicSub-Saharan AfricaSurveillance |
| spellingShingle | Pierre-Alain Rubbo Marie-Estelle Soupé-Gilbert Davy Martial Golongba Florent Mbombo Dominique Girault Emmanuel Nakouné Jean-Pierre Lombart Sébastien Breurec Cyrille Goarant Evidence of human leptospirosis cases in a cohort of febrile patients in Bangui, Central African Republic: a retrospective study, 2012–2015 BMC Infectious Diseases Leptospirosis Bacteria Infection Central African Republic Sub-Saharan Africa Surveillance |
| title | Evidence of human leptospirosis cases in a cohort of febrile patients in Bangui, Central African Republic: a retrospective study, 2012–2015 |
| title_full | Evidence of human leptospirosis cases in a cohort of febrile patients in Bangui, Central African Republic: a retrospective study, 2012–2015 |
| title_fullStr | Evidence of human leptospirosis cases in a cohort of febrile patients in Bangui, Central African Republic: a retrospective study, 2012–2015 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evidence of human leptospirosis cases in a cohort of febrile patients in Bangui, Central African Republic: a retrospective study, 2012–2015 |
| title_short | Evidence of human leptospirosis cases in a cohort of febrile patients in Bangui, Central African Republic: a retrospective study, 2012–2015 |
| title_sort | evidence of human leptospirosis cases in a cohort of febrile patients in bangui central african republic a retrospective study 2012 2015 |
| topic | Leptospirosis Bacteria Infection Central African Republic Sub-Saharan Africa Surveillance |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-018-3298-z |
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