Optimization of Culture of Leptospira from Humans with Leptospirosis
Wuthiekanun V., Chierakul W., Limmathurotsakul D., Smythe LD., Symonds ML., Dohnt MF., Slack AT., Limpaiboon R., Suputtamongkol Y., White NJ., Day NPJ., Peacock SJ.
ABSTRACT A prospective study of 989 patients with acute febrile illness was performed in northeast Thailand to define the yield of Leptospira from four different types of blood sample. Based on a comparison of the yields from whole blood, surface plasma, deposit from spun plasma, and clotted blood samples from 80 patients with culture-proven leptospirosis, we suggest a sampling strategy in which culture is performed using whole blood and deposit from spun plasma.