title: Lymphopenia is observed regularly in the acute (leptospiraemic) phase but not the immune phase of leptospirosis.
abstract: Lymphocyte counts in patients with leptospirosis have been shown to be variable. This study retrospectively compared lymphocyte counts from the first blood samples taken following hospital presentation in patients with leptospirosis who were either (i) IgM non-reactive, (ii) IgM reactive and microscopic agglutination test (MAT) non-reactive or (iii) IgM and MAT reactive in an effort to determine whether differences in lymphocyte counts are observed in the acute and immune phase of leptospirosis. Statistical differences in lymphocyte counts were observed between the three groups. In conclusion, this study has shown that the phase of leptospiral infection may affect patient lymphocyte counts.
authors.affiliation: WHO/OIE/FAO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis, Communicable Diseases Unit, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Service, Archerfield, Queensland 4108, Australia. scott craig@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Scott B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Glenn C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Mary-Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dohnt
authors.forename: Lee D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Smythe
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: McKay
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D016953:Leptospiraceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M