[The application of the hybridization in colonies technic for the identification of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae 01]. / Aplicación de la técnica de hibridación en colonias para la identificación de Vibrio cholerae 01 toxigénico.

By means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) it was obtained a probe for the gen that codifies the subunit B of cholerae toxin (CTxB), which carried a Vibrio cholerae 01 reference strain. The checking of the amplified product was performed by using the hybridization techniques in colonies. This product hybridized with the gen that codifies for the subunit B of cholerae toxin isolated from Peru and Ecuador, representing the present epidemics in Latin America, but it did not so with the phylogenetically related strains.

[Cholera in a district of Peru]. / El cólera en un distrito de Perú.

Taking to consideration the low report of cholera patients and with the main knowing the reality about the introduction of Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae) in Peru, a sample of 101 cases with acute diarrheal disease (ADD) was taken at the Distrito Villa El Salvador. They were selected by a systematic randomized sampling defined for each health care unit in the District, according to the daily average occurrence of ADD cases attended a week before the beginning of the study. All of them took part in a epidemiological survey. A sample was taken by rectal swab in order to isolate V. cholerae. 53 positive cases were found (52.2% and a confidence interval from 42.29 to 62.5%) with significant differences (p < 0.01) between the frequency in adults (67.3%) and children (34.8%). V. cholerae was isolated only in 13 (61.9%) of the 21 cases who had contact with cholera patients, for a relative risk of 1.24 (0.83 < RR < 1.85). A high positivity was also found, 21 cases (72.4%) among those who had raw food. A significant difference (p < 0.01) was observed in connection with those who had cooked food. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis it was only found a significant relationship with age and with the ingestion of raw food as regards the occurrence of cholera.

[Aeromonas hydrophila pneumonia associated with a traffic accident. Report of a case]. / Neumonía por aeromonas hydrophila asociada a un accidente de tránsito. Reporte de un caso.

The case of a patient who was driving a car after getting drunk is presented. His car turned over and he fell into an irrigation canal, and, as a result, he suffered from an incomplete drowning syndrome. He was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit with acute inflammatory pneumonia and a strain of Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated in blood. The patient's evolution was favorable. It is the first report on a case like this in our country.

[Phenotype markers in strains of Aeromonas isolated in Cuba from children with an acute diarrheic disease]. / Marcadores fenotípicos en cepas de Aeromonas aisladas en Cuba de niños con enfermedad diarreica aguda.

Twenty-seven cases of Aeromonas isolated from 300 five-years children with acute diarrheal disease (EDA) were studied, with the aim for demonstrating the occurrence of some phenotypical markers associated with enteropathogenicity; among them were lysine decarboxylation, acetil methyl carbinol production, enterotoxigenicity, cytotoxicity and hemolysis. The percentage of analysed strains had two or more of the investigated markers, and 13 (48.1%) lysed the rabbit erythrocytes with titres higher than than 1:16. The presence of markers in Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas sobria, and Aeromonas caviae was demonstrated.

[Septicemia due to Shigella. A case report and review of the literature]. / Septicemia por Shigella. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Knowing that the isolation of Shigella in blood is considered as an unusual medical event, a case of an infant deceased from septicemia by Shigella sonnei is presented here. This is the first case of the kind reported in Pinar del Río province. A review of the literature is included.

[The identification of Aeromonas species isolated in Cuba]. / Identificación en especies de Aeromonas aisladas en Cuba.

100 Aeromonas strains, isolated from children under 5 years with acute diarrheal diseases from various health centers of the country, were studied from January to July, 1990. Using the Janda-modified Popoff's and Veron's model, 63% of the strains were identified in species through primary tests, and 100% of the other 37% were identified in Aeromonas sobria, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Aeromonas caviae, using also supplementary tests.

[The infectious etiology of acute diarrheal diseases in the Republic of Cuba, 1991]. / Etiología infecciosa de las enfermedades diarreicas agudas en la República de Cuba, 1991.

This study was carried out in 1991 to learn the behavior of enteropathogenic agents causing acute diarrheal diseases in Cuba. 30 children, admitted in hospitals or seen in outpatient services for acute diarrheal diseases, were selected in each province taking into account that they had not received antibiotic or chemotherapy treatments in the previous 72 hours. Feces samples were taken from all patients for virological, bacteriological, and parasitological studies, and results were sent to the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine. Data were processed in DBASE III. Higher positivity indices were attained in the winter months. The causative agents most frequently found were: rotavirus (8.2%); Entamoeba histolytica (6.1%); and Salmonella (4.2%). Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Shigella and rotavirus showed higher indices in winter. Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei predominated. Salmonella serogroups D, B, and C, and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli 0119 and 026 subsets were the most frequently found.

[Identification of gram negative, facultative anaerobic, oxidase positive bacilli]. / Identificación de bacilos gramnegativos, anaerobios facultativos, oxidasas positivos.

We identified 100 strains of Gram-negative, oxidase-positive bacilli, facultative anaerobes, isolated from different human pathological products by conventional biochemical methods. From the total number of strains studied, 1 corresponded to genus Vibrio, 66 to genus Aeromonas, and 33 to genus Plesiomonas. It is of the utmost importance to conduct surveillance studies of these microorganisms in order to investigate their circulation in Cuba.

[CAMP factor for the differentiation among Aeromonas species]. / Factor CAMP para la diferenciación en especies de Aeromonas.

The CAMP factor technique, described by Natale Figura as a presumptive method for the differentiation of the species hydrophila, sobria and caviae, was applied to 80 Aeromonas strains isolated from children under 5 years with acute diarrheic disease. The typical phenomenon was seen in aerobiosis and anaerobiosis conditions in 10 strains, which were classified as Aeromonas hydrophila. In aerobiosis conditions/alone, it was observed in 20 strains, which were identified as Aeromonas sobria. It was not observed in either of the incubation conditions above mentioned in 50 of the remaining strains, which were identified as Aeromonas caviae. The advantages of applying this new technique is emphasized.

[Characterization of monoclonal antibodies that recognize the thermolabile toxin of Vibrio cholerae]. / Caracterización de anticuerpos monoclonales que reconocen la toxina termolábil de Vibrio cholerae.

The obtention of two monoclonal antibodies which recognize a single epitope present in the subunit B of the thermolabile toxin of Vibrio cholerae and another which shows a cross-reaction with those produced by certain enteropathogenic toxins, is reported. The standardization of a solid phase indirect immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) for the primary screening and selection of hybrids was performed; in addition, the isotype was determined.

[Identification of species of microorganisms of the genus Vibrio]. / Identificación de especies de microorganismos del género Vibrio.

During 1988, a study was made on 61 microorganisms, genus Vibrio, which were received at the National Reference Laboratory for Acute Diarrheic Diseases. Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine. Of them, 46 were from children with acute diarrheic disease and 15 were isolated from the environment. By means of biochemical tests. 61 Vibrio cholerae No. 01. 9 Vibrio parahaemolyticus and 1 Vibrio alginolyticus were identified. Emphasis is placed upon the importance of keeping a systematic surveillance upon these microorganisms in Cuba.

[Isolation and identification of Vibrio genus microorganisms in the Quibu River]. / Aislamiento e identificación de microorganismos del género Vibrio en las aguas del río Quibú.

The Quibú River sewages were studied during 9 weeks, in order to isolate and characterize Vibrio genus microorganisms. Twenty Moore's hyssops were placed 2 or 3 times a week on the banks of the river, where each of them was kept in a passive capture stay for 24 hours. In all the hyssops placed, Vibrio cholerae non-01 were isolated.

[Yersinia enterocolitica: investigation in 1,300 children under 5 years of age with acute diarrhea]. / Yersinia enterocolitica: investigación en 1.300 niños menores de 5 años con enfermedad diarreica aguda.

The presence of Yersinis enterocolitica was investigated in feces of 1,300 children younger than 5 years, hospitalized because of presenting acute diarrheic disease in Cuba during 1985-1988 period at different provincial pediatric hospital, as well as in Havana City. Selective agar base for Yersinia was used supplemented with cephsuloidin, Irgasan and novoviocin (CIN) and buffered saline solution as enrichment medium. This last one at 4 degrees C during 21 days with weekly resowings to the selective medium. Isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica was not obtained in any of the patients under study.

[Identification of microorganisms of the Vibrio genus using the method of sample combination]. / Identificacion de microorganismos del genero Vibrio por el metodo de combinacion de muestras.

In order to apply a more rapid, economic and effective method for the isolation of microorganisms of the genus Vibrio. 400 samples of feces from passengers hospitalized at the "Pedro Kouri" Tropical Medicine Institute, Searching Ward, were processed by the combination method. In this study the feces were grouped in combinations of ten; in this way 40 coprocultures were performed. The isolation was carried on enriching the samples in alkaline peptone at pH 8.6 and subcultures in thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose agar were performed.

[Application of the Moore swab method to the isolation of Aeromonas spp. from residual waters]. / Aplicación del método del hisopo de Moore en el aislamiento de Aeromonas spp. en aguas residuales.

The Moore swab technique was applied in waste water from three different areas of the "Pedro Kouri" Institute of Tropical Medicine, with the view to isolate organisms of the genus Aeromonas. Swabs were placed once a week, in the wards of Medicine, Screening, and Diagnostic Laboratory. Of 13 swabs placed in the Medicine ward, 8 were positive. Of 15 swabs placed in Diagnostic Laboratory, 8 were positive, and of 18 placed in the screening ward, 12 were positive. Of a total 46 swabs, 28 disclosed organisms of the genus Aeromonas.

[Aeromonas hydrophila. Infection in Xenopus laevis]. / Aeromonas hydrophila. Infección en Xenopus laevis.

Aeromonas hydrophila caused severe disease in a group of 50 Xenopus leavis three weeks after being transferred from their laboratory conditions. The first clinical signs observed were marked pallor, petechiae, lethargy, anorexia, and edema. The duration of the disease was about 48 days, during which 4 animals acquired the disease and 10 died. The study of the bacteriology of the skin and skeletal muscles showed at necropsy subcutaneous edema, hemorrhage, and ascitis. Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated in 14 of the 50 animals studied.