title: Haemoglobin and red cell counts in leptospirosis patients infected with different serovars.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to compare haemoglobin and red cell counts between patients known to be infected with a range of leptospiral serovars.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study retrospectively compared the haemoglobin and red cell count results from the first blood samples taken from 207 patients at presentation to a Queensland Health hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were observed in haemoglobin and red cell counts in those infected with Leptospira interrogans serovars Szwajizak and Canicola when compared with most of the other serovars.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that haemoglobin and red cell counts may be useful in differentiating leptospiral serovars in leptospirosis patients.
authors.affiliation: Communicable Diseases Unit, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Service, WHO/OIE/FAO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis, Archerfield, Queensland, Australia. Scott_Craig@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Scott Benjamin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Lee Douglas
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Smythe
authors.forename: Glenn Charles
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Mary-Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Jamie Lee
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Michael Francis
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dohnt
authors.forename: Suhella Mohan
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tulsiani
authors.forename: David Brian
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: McKay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007919:Leptospira / Q000145:classification*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins