Tick-borne viruses and their risk to public health in the Caribbean: Spotlight on bats as reservoirs in Cuba.

In recent decades, tick-borne diseases (TBDs) have surged and expanded globally due to factors like changes in human activities, land use patterns, and climate change, and it have been associated with the emergence of zoonotic diseases. Cuba faces the impact of ticks on human health and the economy. Although Cuba has studied TBDs extensively for the past 50 years, focus on tick-borne viral pathogens affecting humans remains scant.

[Serological study carried out in Cuban localities where confirmed western Nile virus infection is present].

Introduction: first infected cases caused by West Nile virus were reported in Cuba in 2004.

Objective: to monitor and learn about the prevalence of the West Nile virus in those areas with confirmed cases.

Methods: the study was conducted in Jatibonico municipality and in the city of sancti Spiritus.

Monoclonal antibody to dengue capsid protein: its application in dengue studies.

Dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) are considered the most important arthropod-borne viral diseases in terms of morbidity and mortality. The emergency and severity of dengue (Den) infections increase the necessity of an early, quick and effective dengue laboratory diagnostic. Viral isolation is considered a gold standard for diagnosis of dengue infection using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as a tool for determining serotype specificity.

[Monoclonal antibodies recognizing the capsular polysaccharide of Cryptococcus neoformans].

Our objective was to obtain monoclonal antibodies (Mab), by using the cell fusion technology, capable of recognizing the serotype A glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) fraction. Cryptococcus neoformans is a yeastlike fungus surrounded by a polysaccharide capsule and an agent of deep mycosis in men that affects particularly AIDS patients. 3 groups of Balb/c mice were immunized with GXM coupled to lamb erythrocytes at a dose of 10 microg of GXM by subcutaneous route, 50 microg of GXM by subcutaneous route and 50 microg of GXM y intraperitoneal route.