Dengue virus infected patients can generate false positives in the ‘gold standard’ Leptospira spp. microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and IgG- and IgM- antibody specific immunofluorescence and protein (Western) immunoblot assays due to cross-reacti

This is the first report of false-positive anti-Leptospira spp. IgM and/or IgG antibody reactions resulting from on-going primary or secondary DENV infections which may: a) account for some 'DENV-Leptospira spp. co-infections' being erroneously reported and b) lead to inappropriate antibiotic therapies, rather than appropriate early supportive therapy for 'severe dengue' cases in their widely co-endemic pan-global regions.