The study was undertaken to analyse the incidence of leptospirosis in patients presenting with Pyrexia of unknown origin,utilizing Macroscopic Slide Agglutination Test and to study the clinical profile of leptospirosis. Out of a total number of 2757 samples received 447 ( 16 % ) were positive for leptospirosis. The incidence of leptospirosis in pediatric age group was found to be 39%.As regards with the clinical features,all patients presented with fever. There was a high incidence of anicteric leptospirosis( 86%). Hepatomegaly ( 55% ).abdominal pain ( 52% )and vomiting ( 50 % ) were the other common presentations in positive cases.

In conclusion the incidence of leptospirosis among clinically suspected cases was 16%.There was a high incidence of leptospirosis in children which has been largely under reported.Common clinical features were fever,hepatomegaly,abdominal pain and vomiting. 86% of the cases were anicteric. Macroscopic Slide Agglutination  test

 ( MSAT ) was found to be an easy and effective screening test for leptospirosis.

Prema malini.T.,Narayanan.R.,Latha.T,Shivakumar.S.,Kalavathy Victor.,Geethalakshmi.S.,Sumathi.G.,Vijayalakshmi.T.S.

Department of Microbiology

MMC.