EVALUATION OF THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION FOR EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF LEPTOSPIROSIS

Early diagnosis of leptospirosis is important because severe leptospir al infection can run a fulminant course. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was evaluated for the detection of leptospires in clinical samp les from patients with acute leptospiral infection. Blood and urine sa mples from 71 patients with leptospirosis were examined by PCR, cultur e or serology. Samples from 44 (62 %) patients with the diagnosis of l eptospirosis were positive by PCR as compared to 34 (48 %) by culture. The presence of leptospires was demonstrated by PCR in 13 patients be fore the development of antibodies, as well as in two patients who wer e seronegative during their illness and at autopsy. Samples from 16 pa tients without leptospirosis were seronegative and culture negative, a nd also negative by PCR. We conclude that PCR is a rapid, sensitive an d specific during the first few days of the disease.