title: Molecular confirmation of co-infection by pathogenic Leptospira spp. and Orientia tsutsugamushi in patients with acute febrile illness in Thailand.
abstract: Leptospirosis and scrub typhus are major causes of acute febrile illness in rural Asia, where co-infection is reported to occur based on serologic evidence. We re-examined whether co-infection occurs by using a molecular approach. A duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction was developed that targeted a specific 16S ribosomal RNA gene of pathogenic Leptospira spp. and Orientia tsutsugamushi. Of 82 patients with an acute febrile illness who had dual infection on the basis of serologic tests, 5 (6%) had polymerase chain reaction results positive for both pathogens. We conclude that dual infection occurs, but that serologic tests may overestimate the frequency of co-infections.
authors.forename: Piengchan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sonthayanon
authors.forename: Wirongrong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chierakul
authors.forename: Vanaporn
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wuthiekanun
authors.forename: Direk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Limmathurotsakul
authors.forename: Premjit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amornchai
authors.forename: Lee D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Smythe
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Sharon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Peacock
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060085:Coinfection; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007919:Leptospira / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012285:Orientia tsutsugamushi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S