The objectives of the present work were to detect Leptospira seropositive animals. The ELISA results report only IgG antibodies, which could be attributable to chronic infections or else, that they are healthy carriers....The objectives of the present work were to detect Leptospira seropositive animals. The ELISA results report only IgG antibodies, which could be attributable to chronic infections or else, that they are healthy carriers. All polymerase chain reaction positive animals should be considered potential sources of infection.
Reyes EA, Cullen P, Bulach D
… +3 more, Adler B, Haake D, de la Peña-Moctezuma A
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2005 · PMID 17966476
A fragment of 1.539 pb of the gene homologous to gspD of Hardjobovis was clonated in the pET28a vector and it was transformed into E. coli C43 and Rosetta strains. The sequence of GspD(L) showed 46 % of similitude with E...A fragment of 1.539 pb of the gene homologous to gspD of Hardjobovis was clonated in the pET28a vector and it was transformed into E. coli C43 and Rosetta strains. The sequence of GspD(L) showed 46 % of similitude with E. coli GspD secretin. The expression of recombinant GspD(L) was obtained in Rosetta strain.
Casas EM, Ríos RR, Bulach D
… +2 more, Adler B, de la Peña-Moctezuma A
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2005 · PMID 17966475
Plasmid pGL4W15-96 was constructed from the pGL4W74 vector without promoter for kanamycin and a sequence of 480pb containing the supposed J15 promoter with the objective of confirming the role of J15 sequence as a promot...Plasmid pGL4W15-96 was constructed from the pGL4W74 vector without promoter for kanamycin and a sequence of 480pb containing the supposed J15 promoter with the objective of confirming the role of J15 sequence as a promoter for Leptospira, which restored the transcription of the gene of resistance to kanamycin in Escherichia coli and Leptospira biflexa, corroborating this way the function of the insertion as a promoter for both organisms.
Vega LE, Flores RL, Moles y Cervantes LP
… +1 more, Valiente JQ
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2005 · PMID 17966474
48 adult bovine females dividided into 6 groups were used aimed at characterizing the immune response induced in breastfeeeding cows by an homologous bacterin formulated with different adjuvants. They were intramuscularl...48 adult bovine females dividided into 6 groups were used aimed at characterizing the immune response induced in breastfeeeding cows by an homologous bacterin formulated with different adjuvants. They were intramuscularly administered 2 milliliters of a bacterin formulated with Leptospira interrogans serovars uam, wolffi, hardjo, bratislava, grippotyphosa and panama added with different adjuvants, such as aluminum hydroxide, Freud's complete adjuvant, Freud's incomplete adjuvant, liposoluble vitamins, bacterin plus disparasitization with levamisol. The control group was administred only with bacterin. Immunization took place in 2 occasions at a time interval of 28 days. Blood samples were taken every 7 days during the first month after vaccination, and every 28 days for the next 8 months. All the sera were analyzed by the microscopic agglutination test. The results were transformed into Log10 and they were analyzed by NLIN and GLM of SAS. The period of greater response was estimated by the prediction model (Wood). The bacterin did not produce alteration either in the physiological constants, or in milk production. The serovars of Leptospira interrogans that induced higher titers were uam, hardjo and wolffi. The statistical difference between treatments and between serovars was determined.
Rodríguez I, Martínez R, Zamora Y
… +3 more, Rodríguez JE, Fernández C, Obregón AM
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2005 · PMID 17966473
A quantitative ELISA for the detection of IgG antibodies in response to the Cuban vaccine against the human leptospirosis (vax-SPIRAL) was applied to 930 volunteers'sera, 483 immunized with vax-SPIRAL and 447 with a vacc...A quantitative ELISA for the detection of IgG antibodies in response to the Cuban vaccine against the human leptospirosis (vax-SPIRAL) was applied to 930 volunteers'sera, 483 immunized with vax-SPIRAL and 447 with a vaccine against hepatitis B. Samples were taken before beginning the study, 21 days after the second dose and a year later. A high seroprevalence of antibodies to the vaccine serovars was observed before beginning the study. The initial value of the response doubled at 21 days of the second dose in 45 % of the individuals. There were markedly significant differences (p=0,000000) between both groups. A similar response to the three leptospiral serovars was found. After the year the levels of antibodies decreased; however, 23.1% of the individuals were able to duplicate their level of antibodies regarding the initial moment, and the significant difference with the group that received the vaccine against hepatitis B still existed. The application of this Cuban immunogen amomg the main risk groups was recommended.
Alvarez MA, Moles y Cervantes LP, Rosas DG
… +2 more, Vasquez CN, García FS
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2005 · PMID 17966472
The newly published information about the different ecological regions of Mexico was analyzed aimed at knowing the situation of bovine leptospirosis. A bibliographical search was made and the articles were chosen accordi...The newly published information about the different ecological regions of Mexico was analyzed aimed at knowing the situation of bovine leptospirosis. A bibliographical search was made and the articles were chosen according to the following inclusion criteria: a) diagnosis technique: microscopic agglutination, b) positive criterion titres of 1:100 or higher, c) time period: 1991-2003, d) publications such as thesis, memoirs of congresses, non-scientific journals and journals with arbitrage, e) location by states. The duplicated information was considered as the exclusion criteria. The results of frequency and of serovarieties of leptospirosis were reported by state, considering the different ecological regions. Reference to 17 states is made. The arid and semi-arid region had a frequency of 37.8 % with a range from 31% to 59%, the prevalent serovars were H-89 strain (hardjo genotype hardjoprajitno), hardjo, wolffi and tarassovi. In the dry tropical region, there was a frequency of 45.9 % with a range from 27 to 72 %. The prevailing serovarieties were wolffi, hardjo and tarassovi. In the humid tropical region , the frequency was 63.8 % with a range between 31.7 and 84.6 %. The predominating serovarieties were H-89 strain (hardjo genotype hardjoprajitno), hardjo, wolffi and tarassovi. In the mild climate, the average frequency of leptospirosis was 39.4 % with a range from 22.1 to 54.3 %. The prevailing serovarieties were Palo Alto strain (icterohaemorrhagiae), Sinaloa ACR strain (portlandvere), bratislava, pyrogenes, pomona, and H-89 strain (hardjoprajitno), hardjo, wolffi and tarassovi. It was concluded that the presence of antobodies against L. interrogans is endemic in the different ecological regions of Mexico and that there is an elevated prevalence of serovarieties hardjo, wolffi y tarassovi; although in the temperate region, the Palo Alto strain (icterohaemorrhagiae), the Sinaloa ACR strain (portland vere) and Bratislava are present, too. Apparently, the climate influences on the frequency of presentation of the serovarieties. This is the first analysis of bovine leptospirosis by regions made in Mexico.
Vitale M, Vitale F, Di Marco V
… +3 more, Curró V, Vesco G, Caracappa S
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2005 · PMID 17966471
We set a method targeting 16 rRNA gene consisting in a single polymerase chain reaction of 40 cycles which is specific for pathogenic leptospira. Negative polymerase chain reaction results were observed with nonpathogeni...We set a method targeting 16 rRNA gene consisting in a single polymerase chain reaction of 40 cycles which is specific for pathogenic leptospira. Negative polymerase chain reaction results were observed with nonpathogenic Leptospira (serovar patoc) and other bacteria species. By this method a survey on a population of autochthon swine herds had been conducted in Sicily particularly on kidney samples of slaughtered animals and on urine samples from live animals. The analysis showed that a prevalence of leptospira up to 40 % can be observed on these animals. Results on other bovine and ovine herds from the same province in Sicily showed a lower prevalence.
Velasco-Castrejón O, Rivas-Sánchez B, Gutiérrez E
… +4 more, Chávez L, Duarte P, Chavarria S, Rivera-Reyes HH
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2005 · PMID 17966470
Two cases of chronic leptospirosis in bicitopenic and pancitopenic patients, respectively, with mucocutaneous and visceral bleedings were presented. They were diagnosed myeloblastic leukemia M3 and acute lymphoblastic le...Two cases of chronic leptospirosis in bicitopenic and pancitopenic patients, respectively, with mucocutaneous and visceral bleedings were presented. They were diagnosed myeloblastic leukemia M3 and acute lymphoblastic leukemia L2 by bone marrow aspiration and they were treated as such at the hematology department of a general hospital. Both patients died after one of them had considerably improved on being treated with sodium crystalline penicillin at high doses. The histopathological studies could not demonstrate the presence of neoplastic cells in bone marrow but leptospiras were found by means of silver stained preparations (Warthin - Starry) and immunofluorescence, both in this organ and in other tissues studied: kidney., spleen, liver and lungs. The histopathological diagnoses were generalized leptospirosis with medullary aplasia and generalized leptospirosis with myelodisplastic syndrome, respectively. It was reviewed the possibility that leptospira could cause leukemoid syndromes and/or leukemia. Based on these results, it is recommended to hematologists, infectologists, pathologists, and others, to use again the technques of argentic impregnation, immunohystochemistry and immunofluorescence to study the bone marrow and other tissues in order to detect the possible presence of leptospira that would allow to treat the patients more effectively, particularly, patients like these that had serological titres considered negatives so as to avoid the false security existing in the official health institutions about the minimum or null impact that leptospirosis cause in public health, which imply the absence of control systems for this spirochetosis.
Obregón AM, Llanes R, Fernández C
… +2 more, Hernández I, Rodriguez J
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2005 · PMID 17966469
A method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration for leptospiras was developed, since there is not a standard method to measure it at the international level. Reference strains from the pathogenic complex L. in...A method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration for leptospiras was developed, since there is not a standard method to measure it at the international level. Reference strains from the pathogenic complex L. interrogans and L. biflexa were used against penicillin, cyprofloxacine, chloramphenicol, rifampicine and tetracycline. The minimum inhibitory concentration was defined as the lowest concentration of antibiotic where it was observed the inhibition of the bacterial mobility by direct examination in dark field. Ranges for penicillin were from 0.095 to 152 microg/mL, for tetracycline from 0.156 to 3.13 microg/mL, for chloramphenicol, from 0.08 to 12.52 microg/mL, for rifampicine from 0.08 to 1.56 microg/mL, and for cyprofloxacine from 0.15 to 2.4 microg/mL. The antibiotics that showed the lowest values were cyprofloxacine, rifampicine and tetracycline, whereas the most elevated value was obtained against chloramphenicol and penicillin. The strains from the serogroups circulating more frequently in Cuba were used in this research. This study will allow in a near future to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility in autochthonous strains isolated from patients with Leptospirosis at the national level.
A comprehensive information about the life of Mary Henrietta Kingsley, a British traveller, naturalist and nurse, and the legacy of her beneficent work were provided in this paper. Also, reference was made to medal Mary...A comprehensive information about the life of Mary Henrietta Kingsley, a British traveller, naturalist and nurse, and the legacy of her beneficent work were provided in this paper. Also, reference was made to medal Mary Kingsley, an award that was created to perpetuate the memory of this outstanding woman and to acknowledge the work of researchers who have attained remarkable results in the field of tropical medicine. A number of details were given regarding the decoration of well-known Cuban scientist Dr Carlos Juan Finlay Barrés with this medal in 1907. This modest article was aimed at saving from oblivion an event of great importance for the history of public health in general and of tropical medicine in particular since the one hundred anniversary of this event is to be celebrated.
Aragonés López C, Campos Díaz JR, Sánchez Valdés L
… +1 more, Pérez Avila LJ
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2007 · PMID 23427467
An AIDS epidemic is an important challenge to human survival. Although the prevalence in Cuba is below 0.1% in adult people, this disease is a priority problem. The AIDS Prevention Group (known as GPSIDA in Cuba) was cre...An AIDS epidemic is an important challenge to human survival. Although the prevalence in Cuba is below 0.1% in adult people, this disease is a priority problem. The AIDS Prevention Group (known as GPSIDA in Cuba) was created to contribute to the response of the Ministry of Public Health to this slow but growing epidemic. GPSIDA, made up of HIV seropositive and seronegative people, carry out actions aimed at educating the population. avoiding new infections and supporting the infected people and their relatives. This paper was intended to document the development of the group since its inception in 1991 up to 2006, that is, its first 15 years of existence. An infrastructure for GPSIDA at provincial level has been built in addition to the strengthening of the communication and exchange network. There are at present 16 AIDS prevention groups in the country that group over 300 members and 500 collaborators working for the prevention of STI and HIV/AIDS.
Menéndez Díaz Z, Manso Valdés E, Castex Rodríguez M
… +3 more, Fuentes González O, Hernández Contreras N, García Avila I
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2007 · PMID 23427465
One thousand and three hundred twenty one fish from Cyprinodon variegatus, Gambusia punticulata, Fundulus grandis saguanus. Cubanichthys cubensis y Girardinus metallicus were collected for the purpose of locating and ide...One thousand and three hundred twenty one fish from Cyprinodon variegatus, Gambusia punticulata, Fundulus grandis saguanus. Cubanichthys cubensis y Girardinus metallicus were collected for the purpose of locating and identifying fish of interest in the control of mosquito larvae in Cayo Santa Maria, Villa Clara province. Ecological indexes such as diversity (H') and equity (J') were estimated through a program named BIODIVERSITY Pro v2 and also the contents in the stomach of 341 specimens (25,81%) of the total was analyzed. The most abundant and distributed species in all the sampled sites was C. variegatus followed by G puncticulata. The number of fish of these species showed a differential gradient going from West to East: upward for C. variegatus and downward for G. puncticulata (X2 = 150,60, p< 0,001), being the latter the species that most equitably used the food resources (J' = 0,92) since it consumed 6 of them for food. These indigenous fish that are abundant in natural reservoirs should be taken into account for integrated control plans aimed at mosquito, gnat and horsefly breeding sites found in these locations.
A longitudinal study of 161 HIV-positive patients seen at "Pedro Kouri" Institute of Tropical Medicine was conducted to assess the influence of viral recombination in the outcome of patients infected by the human immunod...A longitudinal study of 161 HIV-positive patients seen at "Pedro Kouri" Institute of Tropical Medicine was conducted to assess the influence of viral recombination in the outcome of patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The cohort was divided into two groups: Recombinant and Non Recombinant, depending on the viral subtype or recombinant form accounting for the infection. The participants from each group were observed for 18 months and compared in terms of time to developing AIDS, frequency of opportunistic diseases, survival and speed of reduction of CD4 T lymphocytes. Average time to AIDS was 4.09 +/- 3.8 years for patients in the Recombinant group and 3.62 +/- 2.56 years for patients in the Non Recombinant group (KW 0.14 p=0.73). The survival probability at 10 years after diagnosis was 16 % for Recombinant group and only 8 % for Non Recombinant group (Log Rank 0.11 p = 0.73). The CD4 T lymphocytes decreased at a rate of 86.29 +/- 70.27 cell/microl per year in patients of the Recombinant group and 117.96 +/- 190.6 cel/microl per year in patients of the Non Recombinant group(t 1.36 p = 0.17). We concluded that patients of the Recombinant group had slower progression to AIDS and higher survival probability at 10 years compared to the patients in the Non Recombinant group, although these differences were not statistically significant.
Martín Alfonso D, Silva Cabrera E, Pérez Guevara MT
… +6 more, Díaz Herrera DF, Romero Martínez K, Díaz Torres HM, Lubián Caballero AL, Ruiz Gutiérrez N, Ortiz Losada E
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2007 · PMID 23427463
The results of the design and evaluation of DAVIH VIH-2 diagnosing system, an indirect Elisa for screening of HIV-2 antibodies, which uses a HIV-2 glycoprotein gp36 synthetic peptide in its solid phase, were exposed. In...The results of the design and evaluation of DAVIH VIH-2 diagnosing system, an indirect Elisa for screening of HIV-2 antibodies, which uses a HIV-2 glycoprotein gp36 synthetic peptide in its solid phase, were exposed. In the system evaluation using WHO reference panels, 100% sensitivity, 99,81% specificity, 99,81% efficacy and very good concordance level (kappa = 0.978) were attained. Serum samples of 959 individuals with undetermined or negative results to the HIV-1 antibodies confirmation (DAVIH blot) were evaluated by the DAVIH VIH-2 system. Twenty four samples were reactive, six of which had confirmed HIV-2 antibodies. These results allowed recommending the introduction of this diagnostic kit in the HIV infection diagnosing algorithm in Cuba.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the zoonotic potential of the 461 stray dogs from the City of Havana, as well as, the prevalence of intestinal helminth infection in two periods. The identified helminth...The objective of the present study was to evaluate the zoonotic potential of the 461 stray dogs from the City of Havana, as well as, the prevalence of intestinal helminth infection in two periods. The identified helminths were Ancylostoma spp. in 97 dogs (21, 04%), Dipylidium caninum in 75 (16, 26%). and Toxocara canis in 91 dos (19, 73%). Ancylostoma spp. infections were the most frequent in the rainy season, that is, May to October, 2005 (P < 0,01) whereas D. caninum was more common in the dry season, that is, November to April, 2006. (p < 0,01). T. canis was more prevalent in young animals (< 1 year), but in older dogs (> 1 year) were Ancylostoma spp. and D. caninum. Female dogs were more infected by T. canis, and D. caninum was more frequent in males. The most observed association was A. caninum--T. canis. These results allowed updating knowledge about helminth species affecting stray dogs and some characteristics of these infections, all of which can serve as a warning about this zoonotic potential.
Bravo Fariñas L, Fernández A, Ramírez MM
… +8 more, Llop A, Martínez G, Hernández RI, Cabrera LE, Morier L, Fraga J, Núñez FA, Aguila A
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2007 · PMID 23427461
The study of 422 non-01 Vibrio cholerae strains from nine provinces, 9 of them isolated from a water-borne disease outbreak, was performed. All the strains exhibited antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence factors. Th...The study of 422 non-01 Vibrio cholerae strains from nine provinces, 9 of them isolated from a water-borne disease outbreak, was performed. All the strains exhibited antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence factors. The nine strains from the outbreak were subjected to a DNA macrorestriction study based on the pulsed field electrophoresis technique. For the first time in Cuba and the Caribbean. The circulation of atypical non-01 V cholerae strains (resistent to vibriostatic compound 0129 and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole). The behavior of antimicrobial susceptibility evinced for the first time the circulation of two different resistence patterns in Cuba (ampicilline, trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole, sulfonamide and tetracycline, trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole, sulfonamide). The frequency of trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole-resistent strains was similar during the whole period of study. However, resistance to ampicilline decreased whereas resistance to tetracycline increased. The main found virulence factors were gelatinase, hemolysine, elastase and adherence to Hep-2 cells. On the other hand, the outbreak strains showed higher percentages than the others due to the presence of heat-liable toxin and fimbriae. The results of the molecular and epidemiological studies allowed giving a speedy and accurate response that explained the etiology of the first food-borne disease outbreak.
Lobaina Rodríguez T, Rodríguez Martínez C, Zhurbenko R
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2007 · PMID 23427460
An Ipomoea batatas extract obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis with alpha amylase was characterized to be used as nutrient basis. Among its quality indicators, it had a content of over 50% whole carbohydrates with respect t...An Ipomoea batatas extract obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis with alpha amylase was characterized to be used as nutrient basis. Among its quality indicators, it had a content of over 50% whole carbohydrates with respect to the nominal mass, estimated by phenol-sulphur method. The same content of aminonitrogen detected and quantified by potentiometric titration using formaldehyde and of total nitrogen (0,23%) by Kjeldahl method were detected. The content of necessary mineral elements for microbial culture was determined by the atom absorption method. The study of biological reactivity of the vegetal extract showed the existence of essential aminoacids such as triptophane, cystine and cysteine for microorganisms. It was proved that the vegetal extract, when used as the only source of nutrients at various concentration levels (2, 4 and 10%), is capable of stimulating the growth of bacteriae and yeasts. The increase of two Candida albicans biomass, determined in a specially designed medium (SIGMA, USA), was significantly higher to that of other nutrient bases like soy peptone, yeast extract, triptone and micological peptone. It was evinced that the vegetal extract as a culture medium component did not have antimicrobial effect compounds since at 15-30 g/L concentrations, this extract did stimulate the microbial growth up to values (UFC/mL) similar to those of the reference media called agar triptone soy.
Balbachán SE, Merino LA, Merino DE
… +2 more, Balbachán ML, Miranda OA
Rev Cubana Med Trop
· 2007 · PMID 23427459
In Corrientes (Argentina), from January 2004 to April 2005, fecal samples from under 5 years-old children with acute diarrhea were collected; the stool samples were cultured onto selective media, and those colonies suspe...In Corrientes (Argentina), from January 2004 to April 2005, fecal samples from under 5 years-old children with acute diarrhea were collected; the stool samples were cultured onto selective media, and those colonies suspected to be Salmonella, Vibrio, Aeromonas, Shigella, or Escherichia coli O157 were identified. The antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed by the disk diffusion method. Among 590 samples, the 7.7% were positive (Salmonella spp 32.6% and Shigella spp 67.4%). Of 31 Shigella isolates, 81% were S. flexneri, and 19% were S. sonnei. S. flexneri serotype 2 was the more frequent. S. flexneri strains showed higher multidrug resistance than S. sonnei strains. Among the Salmonella enterica serotypes, S. typhimurium and S. newport were the most frequent. Two isolates of Salmonella presented with multidrug resistance. This paper was a contribution to the knowledge of bacterial gastroenteritis etiology in our region and it called the attention to the emergence of multidrug-resistant enteropathogenic strains.