An investigation was undertaken to assess the present importance of @entity281 in Northern Ireland, and in particular to look for evidence of @entity281 by leptospiral serotypes other than L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. canicola. Blood samples from 335 @entity1 , sent to the laboratory for a variety of tests, were examined. After initial screening with five groups of pooled antigens, tests for leptospiral agglutinins were completed with formolized antigens prepared from 13 different serotypes. In seven @entity1 a diagnosis of acute @entity2926 was made while nine others showed serological evidence of previous @entity281 . Attempts to isolate leptospirae by culture from 29 blood samples were unsuccessful. The serological results indicate that two additional leptospiral serotypes, namely L. ballum and L. bratislava, are causing @entity1 @entity281 in Northern Ireland, and presumably also in other parts of the British Isles. Some clinical and epidemiological features associated with different types of @entity281 are described. It is stressed that @entity2926 is essentially a @entity221 , that meningeal symptoms are common, and that (contrary to popular belief) @entity1087 is by no means a constant occurrence. The implications of these findings are discussed, with special reference to the diagnosis of @entity281 . Laboratory diagnostic procedures are briefly reviewed, and the possible deficiencies of the agglutination test commonly used in Britain are pointed out. Some suggestions are made concerning both clinical and laboratory aspects of diagnosis, and the need for a reliable screening test for all forms of @entity281 is emphasized.

Recent observations on XXXX in Northern Ireland and their bearing on current diagnostic methods.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human', 'patients'] @entity1087 :: ('MESH:D007565', 'Disease') :: ['jaundice'] @entity2926 :: ('MESH:D007922', 'Disease') :: ['leptospirosis'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['leptospiral infection', 'leptospiral infections', 'infection'] @entity221 :: ('MESH:D005334', 'Disease') :: ['febrile illness']
@entity2926 :: (MESH:D007922,Disease) :: ['leptospirosis']
