[Standardization of an inhibition ELISA technique for the serologic diagnosis of coxsackie virus group B infections]. / Normalización de un ELISA de inhibición para el diagnóstico serológico de las infecciones por virus coxsackie del grupo B.

An inhibition ELISA technic to detect antibodies aimed at Coxsackie B viruses was standardized. The method was type-specific since it could detect antibodies to 4 Coxsackie B serotypes (it wasn't tried on serotypes B2 and B4 because the strains were not available). The comparison with the neutralization technic showed 85% coincidence, 91% sensitivity and 82% specificity. All the reactives used in the assay were produced in our laboratory.

[Serologic marker as indicator of no circulation of poliovirus in Cuba]. / Marcador serológico como indicador de no circulación de poliovirus en Cuba.

The surveillance of the circulation of the wild poliovirus is an essential element for the eradication of poliomyelitis. The Pan-American Health Organization emphasises on the etiological study of acute flaccid paralysis in order to achieve this aim. The characteristics of our program against this entity allowed to use the presence of antibodies in a sample obtained in February from the infant population born on July during the previous year as criteria to know the circulation of wild poliovirus. In 727 infants studies in the country (5% of the total number of births during July), 99.1% showed no antibodies with a titre equal or greater than 1:10. Low titres found in 7 infants were considered as a remnant from maternal transmission. Results obtained represent a strong evidence of the fact that there is no environmental circulation of poliovirus during the period which had the greatest incidence of the disease.

[Virologic diagnosis of an outbreak of epidemic hemorrhagic conjunctivitis by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. Cuba.1989]. / Diagnóstico virológico de un brote de conjuntivitis hemorrágica epidémica mediante la técnica de inmunofluorescencia indirecta. Cuba, 1989.

The causative agent of an hemorrhagic conjunctivitis outbreak was assessed through the study of 18 conjunctival exudates using the indirect immunofluorescence technique and isolation in cell culture of human embryo fibroblasts. In addition, 395 paired serum samples were studied and Enterovirus 70 was found to be responsible for the outbreak.