Genetic tests for low- and middle-income countries: a literature review.

The aim of this review is to describe a series of ten genetic diseases with Mendelian inheritance pattern in people of low- or middle-income countries, which can be easily identified with simple and affordable methods. Recent information shows that although genetic diseases account for more than 10% of infant mortality in such countries, testing, counseling, and treatment of genetic diseases is not a priority. The selection criteria for the genetic tests that are discussed in this review are: i) the frequency of the genetic disease in the general population, ii) the cost and ease of execution, and iii) the report of validated methods in the literature for the diagnosis of these diseases.

[Use of paper strips impregnated with antibiotics in the bacteriological diagnosis of dysentery: the 2-strip method].

The studies provided development of a new method consisting of placing 2 filter paper strips each impregnated with an antibiotic (2 antibiotics are used out of 3: levomycetin, tetracycline and streptomycin) under a layer of Ploskirev's medium with sodium sulfacyl. The antibiotics are chosen proceeding from the predominance in the given area of Shigella resistant to some of the above antibiotics. The method simplifies and makes more economic the tests, provides higher frequency of Shigella isolation as compared to the procedure with the routine Ploskirev's medium or gradient dishes, has almost the same isolation frequency as with the use of 2 plates (with and without antibiotic).