{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]],"date-time":"2025-09-08T06:39:12Z","timestamp":1757313552807},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,2]],"date-time":"2022-12-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1669939200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,2]],"date-time":"2022-12-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1669939200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Eur J Med Res"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Leptospirosis is an emerging neglected zoonotic disease that presents with nonspecific signs\/symptoms and it can be mistaken for other diseases. Owing to limited diagnostic capacity and unawareness, the data on human leptospirosis particularly in neonates are scarce in many sub-Saharan countries. It has been underreported hindering preventive and control measures in place. The study aimed at determining prevalence of leptospirosis as a cause of febrile illness in neonates using IgM ELISA and a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that included 103 neonatal sepsis cases whose parents\/legal guardians gave informed consent. The data on demographic and clinical characteristics were collected using structured data collection form. EDTA whole blood sample was collected from the neonates by trained study nurses. From the samples, IgM ELISA was done using automated analyzers, DNA extracted and qPCR was performed using primers for LipL32, specific for the pathogenic leptospires.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>The prevalence of anti-leptospiral IgM among the neonates as determined by ELISA was 4.3%, where all of them presented with lethargy and poor feeding. No pathogenic<jats:italic>Leptospira<\/jats:italic>species DNA was amplified by qPCR.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>Evidence of leptospirosis was demonstrated in neonatal sepsis cases in this study. The findings suggest considerations of leptospirosis in the differential diagnosis of neonates with sepsis. More data are needed on the real epidemiology, clinical features, and burden of leptospirosis in neonates. There is need to include intermediate pathogenic species of<jats:italic>Leptospira<\/jats:italic>in the diagnostic qPCR assays.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s40001-022-00902-w","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,2]],"date-time":"2022-12-02T08:30:54Z","timestamp":1669969854000},"update-policy":"http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Prevalence of anti-leptospiral IgM and detection of pathogenic Leptospira species DNA in neonates presenting with clinical sepsis in Southwestern Uganda"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"27","author":[{"given":"Derick","family":"Hope","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Stephen","family":"Businge","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Stella","family":"Kyoyagala","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Joel","family":"Bazira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"902_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0003898","volume":"9","author":"F Costa","year":"2015","unstructured":"Costa F, Hagan JE, Calcagno J, Kane M, Torgerson P, Martinez-Silveira MS, Stein C, Abela-Ridder B, Ko AI. Global morbidity and mortality of leptospirosis: a systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015;9: e0003898.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"902_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"835","DOI":"10.1007\/s10096-019-03797-4","volume":"39","author":"KB Karpagam","year":"2020","unstructured":"Karpagam KB, Ganesh B. Leptospirosis: a neglected tropical zoonotic infection of public health importance\u2014an updated review. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020;39:835\u201346.","journal-title":"Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis"},{"key":"902_CR3","volume-title":"Report of the second meeting of the leptospirosis burden epidemiology reference group","author":"WHO","year":"2011","unstructured":"WHO. Report of the second meeting of the leptospirosis burden epidemiology reference group. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2011."},{"key":"902_CR4","volume-title":"Bailey and Scott\u2019s diagnostic microbiology","author":"BA Forbes","year":"2007","unstructured":"Forbes BA, Sahm DF, Weissfeld AS. Bailey and Scott\u2019s diagnostic microbiology. 12th ed. St Loise: Mosby Elsevier; 2007.","edition":"12"},{"key":"902_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-662-45059-8_5","volume-title":"Leptospira and leptospirosis","author":"DA Haake","year":"2015","unstructured":"Haake DA, Levett PN. Leptospirosis in humans. In: Adler B, editor. Leptospira and leptospirosis. Berlin: Springer; 2015. p. 65\u201397."},{"key":"902_CR6","volume-title":"Human leptospirosis: guidance for diagnosis, surveillance and control","author":"WH Organization","year":"2003","unstructured":"Organization WH. Human leptospirosis: guidance for diagnosis, surveillance and control. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2003."},{"key":"902_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3510","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.00670-06","volume":"44","author":"RE Morey","year":"2006","unstructured":"Morey RE, Galloway RL, Bragg SL, Steigerwalt AG, Mayer LW, Levett PN. Species-specific identification of Leptospiraceae by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. J Clin Microbiol. 2006;44:3510\u20136.","journal-title":"J Clin Microbiol"},{"key":"902_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0007270","volume":"13","author":"AT Vincent","year":"2019","unstructured":"Vincent AT, Schiettekatte O, Goarant C, Neela VK, Bernet E, Thibeaux R, Ismail N, Mohd Khalid MKN, Amran F, Masuzawa T. Revisiting the taxonomy and evolution of pathogenicity of the genus Leptospira through the prism of genomics. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2019;13: e0007270.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"902_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"760","DOI":"10.1016\/j.meegid.2009.06.009","volume":"9","author":"GM Cerqueira","year":"2009","unstructured":"Cerqueira GM, Picardeau M. A century of Leptospira strain typing. Infect Genet Evol. 2009;9:760\u20138.","journal-title":"Infect Genet Evol"},{"key":"902_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/2193-1801-2-362","volume":"2","author":"V Balamurugan","year":"2013","unstructured":"Balamurugan V, Gangadhar NL, Mohandoss N, Thirumalesh SRA, Dhar M, Shome R, Krishnamoorthy P, Prabhudas K, Rahman H. Characterization of leptospira isolates from animals and humans: phylogenetic analysis identifies the prevalence of intermediate species in India. Springerplus. 2013;2:1\u20139.","journal-title":"Springerplus"},{"key":"902_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2141","DOI":"10.3201\/eid2112.140659","volume":"21","author":"J Chiriboga","year":"2015","unstructured":"Chiriboga J, Barragan V, Arroyo G, Sosa A, Birdsell DN, Espa\u00f1a K, Mora A, Esp\u00edn E, Mej\u00eda ME, Morales M. High prevalence of intermediate Leptospira spp. DNA in febrile humans from urban and rural Ecuador. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015;21:2141.","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis."},{"key":"902_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2016.00022","volume":"3","author":"SJ Schiff","year":"2016","unstructured":"Schiff SJ, Kiwanuka J, Riggio G, Nguyen L, Mu K, Sproul E, Bazira J, Mwanga-Amumpaire J, Tumusiime D, Nyesigire E. Separating putative pathogens from background contamination with principal orthogonal decomposition: evidence for Leptospira in the Ugandan neonatal septisome. Front Med. 2016;3:22.","journal-title":"Front Med"},{"key":"902_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"288","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.13-0466","volume":"90","author":"C Atherstone","year":"2014","unstructured":"Atherstone C, Picozzi K, Kalema-Zikusoka G. Seroprevalence of Leptospira hardjo in cattle and African buffalos in southwestern Uganda. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2014;90:288.","journal-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg"},{"key":"902_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1413","DOI":"10.2217\/fmb.10.102","volume":"5","author":"KV Evangelista","year":"2010","unstructured":"Evangelista KV, Coburn J. Leptospira as an emerging pathogen: a review of its biology, pathogenesis and host immune responses. Fut Microbiol. 2010;5:1413\u201325.","journal-title":"Fut Microbiol"},{"key":"902_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1093\/clinids\/17.2.241","volume":"17","author":"Y Shaked","year":"1993","unstructured":"Shaked Y, Shpilberg O, Samra D, Samra Y. Leptospirosis in pregnancy and its effect on the fetus: case report and review. Clin Infect Dis. 1993;17:241\u20133.","journal-title":"Clin Infect Dis"},{"key":"902_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijid.2014.06.013","volume":"28","author":"SG De Vries","year":"2014","unstructured":"De Vries SG, Visser BJ, Nagel IM, Goris MGA, Hartskeerl RA, Grobusch MP. Leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. Int J Infect Dis. 2014;28:47\u201364.","journal-title":"Int J Infect Dis"},{"key":"902_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0004122","volume":"9","author":"PR Torgerson","year":"2015","unstructured":"Torgerson PR, Hagan JE, Costa F, Calcagno J, Kane M, Martinez-Silveira MS, Goris MGA, Stein C, Ko AI, Abela-Ridder B. Global burden of leptospirosis: estimated in terms of disability adjusted life years. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015;9: e0004122.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"902_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0003899","volume":"9","author":"KJ Allan","year":"2015","unstructured":"Allan KJ, Biggs HM, Halliday JEB, Kazwala RR, Maro VP, Cleaveland S, Crump JA. Epidemiology of leptospirosis in Africa: a systematic review of a neglected zoonosis and a paradigm for \u2018One Health\u2019in Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015;9: e0003899.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"902_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0004858","volume":"10","author":"A Dreyfus","year":"2016","unstructured":"Dreyfus A, Dyal JW, Pearson R, Kankya C, Kajura C, Alinaitwe L, Kakooza S, Pelican KM, Travis DA, Mahero M. Leptospira seroprevalence and risk factors in health centre patients in Hoima District. Western Uganda PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016;10: e0004858.","journal-title":"Western Uganda PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"902_CR20","first-page":"120","volume":"6","author":"J Mugalu","year":"2006","unstructured":"Mugalu J, Nakakeeto MK, Kiguli S, Kaddu-Mulindwa DH. Aetiology, risk factors and immediate outcome of bacteriologically confirmed neonatal septicaemia in Mulago hospital, Uganda. Afr Health Sci. 2006;6:120\u20136.","journal-title":"Afr Health Sci"},{"key":"902_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0072775","volume":"8","author":"J Kiwanuka","year":"2013","unstructured":"Kiwanuka J, Bazira J, Mwanga J, Tumusiime D, Nyesigire E, Lwanga N, Warf BC, Kapur V, Poss M, Schiff SJ. The microbial spectrum of neonatal sepsis in Uganda: recovery of culturable bacteria in mother-infant pairs. PLoS ONE. 2013;8: e72775.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"902_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2154","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.02452-10","volume":"49","author":"P Bourhy","year":"2011","unstructured":"Bourhy P, Bremont S, Zinini F, Giry C, Picardeau M. Comparison of real-time PCR assays for detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in blood and identification of variations in target sequences. J Clin Microbiol. 2011;49:2154\u201360.","journal-title":"J Clin Microbiol"},{"key":"902_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"711","DOI":"10.1179\/000349809X12554106963393","volume":"103","author":"L Schoonman","year":"2009","unstructured":"Schoonman L, Swai ES. Risk factors associated with the seroprevalence of leptospirosis, amongst at-risk groups in and around Tanga city, Tanzania. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2009;103:711\u20138.","journal-title":"Ann Trop Med Parasitol"},{"key":"902_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0002324","volume":"7","author":"JA Crump","year":"2013","unstructured":"Crump JA, Morrissey AB, Nicholson WL, Massung RF, Stoddard RA, Galloway RL, Ooi EE, Maro VP, Saganda W, Kinabo GD. Etiology of severe non-malaria febrile illness in Northern Tanzania: a prospective cohort study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2013;7: e2324.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"902_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"275","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.2011.11-0176","volume":"85","author":"HM Biggs","year":"2011","unstructured":"Biggs HM, Bui DM, Galloway RL, Stoddard RA, Shadomy SV, Morrissey AB, Bartlett JA, Onyango JJ, Maro VP, Kinabo GD. Leptospirosis among hospitalized febrile patients in northern Tanzania. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011;85:275.","journal-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg"},{"key":"902_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s40348-016-0067-1","volume":"4","author":"GTJ van Well","year":"2017","unstructured":"van Well GTJ, Daalderop LA, Wolfs T, Kramer BW. Human perinatal immunity in physiological conditions and during infection. Mol Cell Pediatr. 2017;4:1\u201311.","journal-title":"Mol Cell Pediatr"},{"key":"902_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4001","DOI":"10.1590\/1413-812320172212.14112016","volume":"22","author":"MI Rosa","year":"2017","unstructured":"Rosa MI, dos Reis MF, Simon C, Dondossola E, Alexandre MC, Colonetti T, Meller FO. IgM ELISA for leptospirosis diagnosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cien Saude Colet. 2017;22:4001\u201312.","journal-title":"Cien Saude Colet"},{"key":"902_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1016\/j.diagmicrobio.2009.03.014","volume":"64","author":"RA Stoddard","year":"2009","unstructured":"Stoddard RA, Gee JE, Wilkins PP, McCaustland K, Hoffmaster AR. Detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. through TaqMan polymerase chain reaction targeting the LipL32 gene. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009;64:247\u201355.","journal-title":"Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis"},{"key":"902_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4172\/2155-9597.1000133","volume":"3","author":"A Ahmed","year":"2012","unstructured":"Ahmed A, Grobusch MP, Klatser PR, Hartskeerl RA. Molecular approaches in the detection and characterization of Leptospira. J Bacteriol Parasitol. 2012;3: e133.","journal-title":"J Bacteriol Parasitol"}],"container-title":["European Journal of Medical Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s40001-022-00902-w.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s40001-022-00902-w\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s40001-022-00902-w.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,15]],"date-time":"2023-03-15T03:51:29Z","timestamp":1678852289000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/eurjmedres.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s40001-022-00902-w"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,2]]},"references-count":29,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,12]]}},"alternative-id":["902"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s40001-022-00902-w","relation":{},"ISSN":["2047-783X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2047-783X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,2]]},"assertion":[{"value":"31 December 2021","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"17 November 2022","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"2 December 2022","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of MUST, reference number 18\/05\u201318 and Uganda national council of science and technology, registration number HS 2753. Site clearance was sought from the Hospital Director (s) of MRRH and HICH. Written informed consent was obtained from the parents\/legal guardians of the neonates. The study was conducted in accordance with existing ethical guidelines and regulations of declaration of Helsinki.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare that they have no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"268"}}