Cytokine Release Assays as Tests for Exposure to Leishmania, and for Confirming Cure from Leishmaniasis, in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients.

Spain has one of the world's largest pools of organ donors and is a global leader in terms of the number of transplants it performs. The current outbreak of leishmaniasis in Fuenlabrada (in the southwest of the region of Madrid, Spain) has involved 600 clinical cases since late 2009 (prevalence 0.2%).

Should we look for Strongyloides stercoralis in foreign-born HIV-infected persons?

The objective was to evaluate the implementation of a systematic Strongyloides stercoralis screening programme in HIV infected immigrants attending an HIV Unit in Spain. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to assess the presence of Strongyloides IgG. Patients with a positive serology were treated with ivermectin; serologic follow-up testing was performed.

Malaria hidden in a patient with diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma and sickle-cell trait.

We report a case of an African patient with sickle cell trait who was diagnosed in Spain with B-cell lymphoma. Blood smears were negative for malaria, and no plasmodium antigens were detected in the blood. To treat his lymphoma, the patient underwent chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation.

Cerebral neuroschistosomiasis: a rare clinical presentation and review of the literature.

The symptomatic presentation of cerebral schistosomiasis is uncommon. The case of a 25-year-old woman from Equatorial Guinea with headache and seizures secondary to cerebral neuroschistosomiasis, as confirmed by histopathological examination and microbiological study, is presented. A review of the literature on this subject is also provided.

[Bordetella pertussis detection by real-time PCR, immunofluorescence and culture: prospective evaluation and molecular epidemiology].

Introduction: An increase in the incidence of pertussis has been observed in recent years. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of several procedures, including real-time PCR, for the laboratory diagnosis of pertussis, and to investigate clonal relationships among clinical isolates of Bordetella pertussis.

Methods: During the period of August 2002 to October 2003, nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from pediatric and adult patients with symptoms of pertussis, and contact cases.