Ratchagadasse Vimal Raj

1 Introduction Scrub typhus caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted through chigger bites is a major but under-recognised cause of acute undifferentiated febrile illness in the Asia–Pacific region including India [1, 2]. Delayed or incorrect diagnosis contributes to preventable complications and mortality, particularly in peripheral healthcare settings where laboratory capacity is limited.

Seroprevalence of leptospirosis among a healthy population of the South Andaman Island was assessed through random sampling. Previous studies have high seroprevalences of up to 55% in general population and 65% in agricultural labourers. The study subjects (1,181 in total, 781 rural and 400 urban) were interviewed and tested for antibodies against Leptospira. Multivariate models were developed to determine the risk factors in the rural and the urban population.