title: The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) is an unreliable predictor of infecting Leptospira serovar in Thailand.
abstract: A prospective study in Thailand identified 106 patients with culture-proven leptospirosis. The accuracy of the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) in predicting the infecting serovar was evaluated in 78/106 (74%) patients with a diagnostic titer. MAT correctly determined the infecting serovar in 26 cases (33%), indicating that this assay is a poor predictor of infecting serovar in our setting.
authors.affiliation: WHO/FAO/OIE Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis, Western Pacific Region, Communicable Disease Unit, Queensland Health Scientific Services, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Lee D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Smythe
authors.forename: Vanaporn
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wuthiekanun
authors.forename: Wirongrong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chierakul
authors.forename: Yupin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suputtamongkol
authors.forename: Surapee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tiengrim
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dohnt
authors.forename: Meegan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Symonds
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Slack
authors.forename: Apichat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Apiwattanaporn
authors.forename: Sunee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chueasuwanchai
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Sharon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Peacock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007919:Leptospira / Q000145:classification*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult