[Leptospirosis in children in Ciego de Avila Province, Cuba]. / Leptospirosis en niños de la Provincia de Ciego de Avila, Cuba.

The morbidity of leptospirosis among children from Ciego de Avila Province was investigated from 1982 to 1995, and 253 cases were diagnosed. Isolated cases prevailed over those occurring in outbreaks. The 10-14 age group was predominant, followed by the 5-9 age group. According to sex, it was more frequently found in males than in females. One death occurred during this period. There was an increase of cases from July to August and October, and November showed a higher incidence of cases. Fever, headache and myalgia were the symptoms and signs more frequently reported, and 92% of cases showed no icterus. Acute fever, leptospirosis and viral meningoencephalitis were the presumptive diagnoses most frequently made. Possible sources of infection involving a larger number of cases were contact with low terrains and bathing in rivers, ponds and lakes. Regarding diagnosis, 162 cases were diagnosed by the microagglutination test and 91 by the hemolytic test. Canicola, australis and pomona were the serogroups more frequently detected by the microagglutination test.

[Human leptospirosis outbreak in the district of Ciego de Avila, Cuba]. / Brotes de leptospirosis humana en la provincia de Ciego de Avila, Cuba.

Forty leptospirosis outbreaks occurred in Ciego de Avila province from 1980 to 1995. The main events involved in the outbreaks were floods, bathing in rivers and activities related to sugar cane and banana cultivation. The number of cases increased after June, with higher incidences reported in October and November. The most affected age groups were 10-14 years, 15-19 years and 30-34 years. Men were more affected than women. Students, people residing in the urban zone and farmers were the most affected groups. A total of 21 outbreaks out of 40 were confirmed by the microagglutination test and the remaining 19 by the hemolytic test. Pomona and Australis were the serogroups most frequently detected by microagglutination.

[Cryptosporidiosis in children with acute diarrhea from Ciego de Avila province, Cuba]. / Criptosporidiosis en niños con diarrea aguda de la provincia de Ciego de Avila, Cuba.

An epidemiological and clinical study of criptosporidiosis in children from Ciego de Avila province was carried out from 1987 to 1994. During this period 14,895 children with acute diarrhea were studied. Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts were found in the feces of 1,256 (8.4%) of them. Isolated cases prevailed over outbreaks, being the incidence rate proportional in both urban and rural areas. Seventy nine point seven per cent of infected children were less one year old, predominating the age group 6-11 months old. No influence of seasons on the occurrence of the parasitose was observed. The most frequently detected symptoms and signs were diarrhea, vomits and loss of weight. The main epidemiological factors were: 81.0% of ill children drank water directly from the aqueduct, 12.8% lived in overcrowded conditions, 11.0% had animals and 10.7% attended nursery schools.

[Investigation of Babesia in farm workers and blood donors in the province of Ciego de Avila]. / Pesquisaje de Babesia en trabajadores agropecuarios y donantes en la provincia de Ciego de Avila.

A descriptive study of cases was conducted in which 781 sera were investigated using the indirect immunofluorescent technique with antigens of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina at the National Center for Agricultural Health. Of them, 371 came from agricultural workers and 410 from donors in the province of Ciego de Avila. It was started from dilutions of 1/64. An epidemiological survey was done to each seropositive so as to know the risk factors. The test of difference of proportions was used to compare the percentages of positives. The geometrical means were calculated in both group and they were compared with the U test of Mann Whitney. Among the agricultural workers it was detected 7% with antibodies against 3.9% of the donors (p < 0.05). It was found a greater circulation of Babesia bovis than of Babesia bigemina.