A duplex SYBR Green I-based real-time RT-PCR assay for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of Massachusetts and non-Massachusetts serotypes of infectious bronchitis virus.

Infectious bronchitis is a highly contagious viral disease of poultry caused by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and is considered one of the most economically important viral diseases of chickens. Control of IBV has been attempted using live attenuated and inactivated vaccines. Live attenuated vaccines of the Massachusetts (Mass.) serotype are the most commonly used for this purpose. Due to the continuous emergence of new variants of the infectious bronchitis virus, the identification of the type of IBV causing an outbreak in commercial poultry is important in the selection of the appropriate vaccine(s) capable of inducing a protective immune response. The present work was aimed at developing and evaluating a duplex SYBR Green I-based real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) assay for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of Mass. and non-Mass. serotypes of IBV. The duplex rRT-PCR yielded curves of amplification with two specific melting curves (Tm1 = 83 °C ± 0.5 °C and Tm2 = 87 °C ± 0.5 °C) and only one specific melting peak (Tm = 87 °C ± 0.5 °C) when the IBV Mass. serotype and IBV non-Mass. serotype strains were evaluated, respectively. The detection limit of the assay was 8.2 gene copies/µL based on in vitro transcribed RNA and 0.1 EID50/mL. The assay was able to detect all the IBV strains assessed and discriminated well among the IBV Mass. and the IBV non-Mass. serotypes strains. In addition, amplification curves were not obtained with any of the other viruses tested. From the 300 field samples tested, the duplex rRT-PCR yielded a total of 80 samples that were positive for IBV (26.67%), 73 samples identified as the IBV Mass. serotype and seven samples as identified as the IBV non-Mass. serotype. A comparison of the performance of test as assessed with field samples revealed that the duplex rRT-PCR detected a higher number of IBV-positive samples than when conventional RT-PCR or virus isolation tests were used. The duplex rRT-PCR presented here is a useful tool for the rapid identification of outbreaks and for surveillance programmes during IB-suspected cases, particularly in countries with a vaccination control programme.

Molecular epidemiology study of swine influenza virus revealing a reassorted virus H1N1 in swine farms in Cuba.

In this report, we describe the emergence of reassorted H1N1 swine influenza virus, originated from a reassortment event between the H1N1 pandemic influenza virus (H1N1p/2009) and endemic swine influenza virus in Cuban swine population. In November 2010, a clinical respiratory outbreak was reported on a pig fattening farm in Cuba. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all the genes of one of the isolate obtained, with the exception of neuraminidase, belonged to the H1N1p/2009 cluster. This finding suggests that H1N1pdm has been established in swine and has become a reservoir of reassortment that may produce new viruses with both animal and public health risks.

Isolation and complete genomic characterization of pandemic H1N1/2009 influenza viruses from Cuban swine herds.

The emergence of the pandemic H1N1/2009 influenza virus poses a potential global threat for human and animal health. In this study, we carried out pandemic H1N1/2009 influenza virus surveillance in swine herds in Cuba intending to determine whether the virus was circulating among pig populations. As a result we describe, for the first time, the detection of pandemic H1N1/2009 influenza virus in swine herds in Cuba. In addition, phylogenetic analysis and molecular characterization of three viral isolates were performed. Phylogenetic relationships confirmed that all of the eight genes of the three isolates were derived from the pandemic H1N1/2009 virus. The Cuban isolates, formed an independent cluster within the pandemic H1N1/2009 influenza strains. Different molecular markers, previously described in pandemic H1N1/2009 influenza viruses, related with adaptive evolution, viral evasion from the host-immune response, virulence and dissemination were also present in Cuban pandemic H1N1/2009 isolates.

Presentación de un caso de secuestro pulmonar intralobar / A case presentation of intralobar pulmonary sequestrum

Las malformaciones pulmonares congénitas se muestran con una incidencia de 2,2 por ciento. La mayoría son malformaciones del intestino anterior y las más frecuentes son los quistes broncogénicos, la malformación quística adenomatoide y el secuestro pulmonar. Se presentó un caso de secuestro pulmonar intralobar en un paciente de 15 años de edad, resuelto mediante acto quirúrgico. Se exponen datos clínicos y estudios imaginológicos. Se revisó el tema

The congenital pulmonary malformations showed an incidence of the 2,2 percent. Most of anterior intestine malformations and the more frequent ones are: bronchogenic cysts, the adenomatoide cystic malformation and the pulmonary sequestrum. This is the case of a patient aged 15 presenting with intralobar pulmonary sequestrum operated on. Clinical data and imaging studies are exposed. There was a subject review

Quistes del mesenterio y epiplón en niños: Estudio de 20 años / Cysts of the mesentery and omentum in children: A 20-year study

Se realiza un estudio de 8 casos operados con diagnóstico de quistes de epiplón o mesenterio en el período de enero de 1982 a diciembre de 2001, en el Hospital Pediátrico universitario Centro Habana. Estas son lesiones intraabdominales raras, que con frecuencia evolucionan como una tumoración asintomática, pero en ocasiones pueden ser causas de abdomen agudo en el niño. Más frecuente en el sexo femenino y todos menores de 10 años de edad. Las radiografías simple de abdomen y el ultrasonido abdominal aportan gran positividad en el diagnostico de estas afecciones. En todos los casos se realizo exéresis total de la lesión tumoral benigna; 3 casos eran quistes del mesenterio del intestino delgado y 5 casos linfangiomas quísticos del epiplón mayor. En 2 pacientes fue necesario realizar resección intestinal para la exéresis del tumor. No hubo complicaciones en nuestros casos.

A study of 8 cases operated on with diagnosis of omentum or mesentery cysts from January 1982 to December 2001 at "Centro Habana" Teaching Pediatric Hospital was conducted. These are rare intraabdominal lesions that frequently evolve as an asymptomatic tumor, but on ocassions may be causes of acute abdomen in the child. They were more common among females and all the affected were under 10. The simple X-rays of the abdomen and the abdominal ultrasound showed great positivity in the diagnosis of these affections. Total exeresis of the benign tumoral lesion was performed in all cases. 3 cases were cysts of the mesentery of the small intestine and 5 were cystic lymphangiomas of the greater omentum . In 2 patients, it was necessary to perform intestinal resection for the tumor exeresis. There were no complications.

Displasia vascular del colon izquierdo, una causa poco frecuente de sangramiento intestinal / Vascular dysplasia of the left colon, an uncommon cause of intestinal bleeding

Se informa el caso de una niña de 7 años de edad, que desde el primer año presenta enterorragia y se llega al diagnóstico de displasia vascular del colon izquierdo, por medio de exámenes radiográficos, endoscópicos e histológicos. Se hace énfasis en la infrecuencia de este padecimiento, así como en su localización (colon izquierdo)

Esofagocoloplastia retroesternal extrapleural en el niño / Retrosternal extrapleural esophagocoloplasty in children

Se estudian las historias clínicas de 30 pacientes operados en el Hospital Pediátrico Docente "Centro Habana", entre los meses de julio de 1973 y julio de 1988, a quienes se les realizó esofagocoloplastia retroesternal extrapleural. El grupo de edad que prevaleció en esta variedad de sustitución esofáfica fue el comprendido entre los 5 primeros años de vida, con predominio del sexo masculino. La enfermedad básica que motivó la sustitución esofágica fue la estenosis esofágica por cástico (80%) y atresia esofágica (20%). Fue utilizado el colon derecho con mayor frecuencia como segmento de trasplante (80,4%); ocurrieron complicaciones en 21 pacientes y no hubo fallecidos en esta serie

Esofagocoloplastia: resultados en 108 pacientes / Esophagocoloplasty: results in 108 patients

Se hace una revisión de 108 esofacoloplastias realizadas consecutivamente en los servicios de Cirugía General de los hospitales docentes "General Calixto García" y Pediátrico de Centro Hubana; se hace énfasis en las indicaciones, los detalles fundamentales de la técnica quirúrgica, las complicaciones y la mortalidad posoperatorias y su prevención. Las complicaciones más frecuentes fueron la dehiscencia de la anastomosis cervical del colon, el neumotórax, la necrosis del segmento transpuesto y la estenosis de la anastomosis cervical. La mortalidad global fue del 23,1%, con el 39,1% para los operados por procesos malignos y el 6,5% en las afecciones benignas. El resultado funcional y estético de la esofagocoloplastia retrosternal extrapleural fue muy satisfactorio