Benjie M. Clemente

Background: Leptospirosis is a globally prevalent zoonotic disease that remains challenging to diagnose due to its nonspecific symptoms and the limitations of current diagnostic methods and targets. To address these challenges, we developed and validated a naked‐eye loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting the newly identified orpH region for the rapid detection of pathogenic Leptospira species. Methods: Comparative genomic analysis identified orpH as a conserved sequence among pathogenic Leptospira. A colorimetric LAMP assay (LAMP‐orpH) was developed and evaluated using reference strains and serum samples obtained from patients with suspected leptospirosis. The diagnostic performance of the assay on these serum samples was evaluated in comparison with conventional PCR and the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), with the real‐time PCR assay targeting lipL32 designated as the reference standard. Results: The LAMP‐ orpH assay demonstrated 87.2% sensitivity and 94.8% specificity among 76 suspected cases and 29 controls, showing strong agreement with real‐time PCR ( κ = 0.826). It outperformed MAT (63.8% sensitivity) and conventional PCR (23.4% sensitivity), achieving a detection limit of 10 ² cells/mL in spiked serum. Conclusion: The LAMP‐ orpH assay offers a rapid, sensitive, and specific tool for early leptospirosis diagnosis. Its simple colorimetric readout and minimal equipment requirements make it ideal for use in rural and resource‐limited settings, providing a practical alternative to MAT, conventional PCR, and qPCR.

CONTEXT: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed serious public health concerns and scared potential blood donors to donate leading to the decline of blood supply. AIMS: Therefore, it is critical to identify current determinants that affect eligible donors to donate and save blood supply. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study design. Using Google Forms, eligible blood donors from Metro Manila, aged 18–60 years, were surveyed via snowball sampling technique. Descriptive measures such as mean and standard deviation and Spearman correlation were utilized to draw the relationship between different variables that affect the donation intention of respondents. RESULTS: A total of 303 respondents gave consent and took part of the survey. The majority of the donor respondents are aged 18-30 years (64%.4), male (70.3%), donated blood more than a year ago (73.3%), and donate blood only when they get the chance (60.4%). For both donors and nondonors, trust toward blood collecting units (BCUs), reinforced by response efficacy and self-efficacy, positively correlates with their donation intention. On the other hand, perceived risk, anxiety, and response cost associated with donating blood during the COVID-19 pandemic showed a significant negative correlation toward blood donation intention. CONCLUSIONS: Response efficacy and self-efficacy, underpinned by organizational trust, play an essential role in donors’ intentions to donate blood. BCUs focusing on the maintenance of trust of potential donors, showing assurance to donors, and providing safety measures to minimize the threat of contracting COVID-19 during blood donation, may aid in ensuring a safe and secured blood supply throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.