Phylogenetic analyses showed that the virus responsible for a May 2024 Oropouche fever outbreak in Cuba was closely related to viruses from Brazil in 2023. Pools of Ceratopogonidae spp. biting midges and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were positive for Oropouche viral RNA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToday is a reality that the novel coronavirus SARS-Cov-2 has become a global pandemic. For this reason, the study of real microscopic images of this coronavirus is of great importance, as it allows us to carry out a more precise research on it. However, as we pointed out in a former paper as reported by Roberto Rodríguez (SARS-CoV-2: Enhancement and Segmentation of High-Resolution Microscopy Images.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent of COVID-19. This virus has become one of the most dangerous in recent times with a very high rate of transmission. At present, several publications show the typical crown-shape of the novel coronavirus grown in cell cultures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSignal Image Video Process
April 2021
Possibly, and due to poor eating habits and unhealthy lifestyle, many viruses are transmitted to human people. Such is the case, of the novel coronavirus SARS-Cov-2, which has expanded of exponential way, practically, to whole world population. For this reason, the enhancement of real microscopic images of this coronavirus is of great importance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCoxsackievirus A24 variant (CVA24v), the main causative agent of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC), can be isolated from both the eyes and lower alimentary tract. However, the molecular features of CVA24v in feces is not well-documented. In this study, we compared the VP1 and 3C sequences of CVA24v strains isolated from feces during AHC epidemics in Cuba in 1997, 2003, and 2008-2009 with those obtained from conjunctival swabs during the same epidemic period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEarly recognition of severe forms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is essential for an opportune and effective intervention, reducing life-risking complications. An altered inflammatory immune response seems to be associated with COVID-19's pathogenesis and progression to severity. Here we demonstrate the utility of early nasopharyngeal swab samples for detection of the early expression of immune markers and the potential value of CCL2/MCP-1 in predicting disease outcome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCoxsackievirus A24 variant (CVA24v) is a major causative agent of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis outbreaks worldwide, yet the evolutionary and transmission dynamics of the virus remain unclear. To address this, we analyzed and compared the 3C and partial VP1 gene regions of CVA24v isolates obtained from five outbreaks in Cuba between 1986 and 2009 and strains isolated worldwide. Here we show that Cuban strains were homologous to those isolated in Africa, the Americas and Asia during the same time period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackgrounds: Intradermal (id) fractional inactivated poliovirus vaccine ([fIPV] one fifth of normal IPV dose) is safe and immunogenic; however, id administration is perceived as difficult. We compared fIPV immunogenicity administered id or intramuscularly (im).
Methods: This noninferiority trial was conducted among polio vaccine-naive Cuban infants who received 2 IPV doses at 4 and 8 months of age.
Background: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) alone does not induce mucosal immunity. However, it was hypothesized that administration of IPV together with bivalent (types 1+3) oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV) may stimulate mucosal cross-immunity to poliovirus type 2 (PV2).
Methods: Cuban infants were randomized to receive either one dose of IPV (Arm A); one dose of IPV with bOPV (Arm B) at about 6 months of age or no vaccine (Arm C).
Cuba eliminated polio in 1962 and was among the first countries to do so. Since then, only 20 cases of vaccine-derived paralytic poliomyelitis have been reported. Because Cuba used oral poliovirus vaccine exclusively in two mass campaigns usually in February and April each year, Sabin viruses were detected only within approximately 6-8 weeks after each annual campaign.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAbstractBeginning in 2014, there has been significant progress in normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States. Herein, we discuss the history and recent progress in scientific collaboration between the two countries as well as the continued challenges. Science and global health diplomacy can be key tools in reestablishing a trusting and productive relationship of mutual and global benefit, bringing about better and healthier lives for people in both Cuba and the United States.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Fractional-dose administration of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (fIPV) could increase IPV affordability and stretch limited supplies. We assessed immune responses following fIPV administered intradermally, compared with full-dose IPV administered intramuscularly, among adults with a history of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) receipt.
Methods: We conducted a randomized, controlled noninferiority trial in Cuba.
Introduction: The World Health Organization recommends that as part of the polio end-game strategy a dose of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) be introduced by the end of 2015 in all countries currently using only oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). Administration of fractional dose (1/5 of full dose) IPV (fIPV) by intradermal (ID) injection may reduce costs, but its conventional administration is with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) needle and syringe (NS), which is time consuming and technically challenging. We compared injection quality achieved with BCG NS and three needle-free jet injectors and assessed ergonomic features of the injectors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: We conducted a follow-on study to a phase I randomized, controlled trial conducted in Cuba, 2012, to assess the persistence of poliovirus antibodies at 21-22 months following booster dose of Sabin-IPV compared to Salk-IPV in adults who had received multiple doses of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) during childhood.
Methods: In 2012, 60 healthy adult males aged 19-23 were randomized to receive one booster dose, of either Sabin-inactivated poliovirus vaccine (Sabin-IPV), adjuvanted Sabin-IPV (aSabin-IPV), or conventional Salk-IPV. In the original study, blood was collected at days 0 (before) and 28 (after vaccination), respectively.
Introduction: The World Health Organization recommends that, as part of the new polio endgame, a dose of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) be introduced by the end of 2015 in all countries using only oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). Administration of fractional dose (1/5th of full dose) IPV (fIPV) intradermally may reduce costs, but its administration is cumbersome with BCG needle and syringe. We evaluated performance of two newly developed intradermal-only jet injectors and compared the immune response induced by fIPV with that induced by full-dose IPV.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: To ensure that developing countries have the option to produce inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has promoted the development of an IPV using Sabin poliovirus strains (Sabin IPV). This trial assessed the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of Sabin IPV and adjuvanted Sabin IPV in healthy adults in Cuba.
Methods: This is a randomized, controlled phase I trial, enrolling 60 healthy (previously vaccinated) male human volunteers, aged 19-23 years to receive one dose of either Sabin IPV (20:32:64 DU/dose), adjuvanted Sabin IPV (10:16:32 DU/dose), or conventional Salk IPV (40:8:32 DU/dose).
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is usually caused by coxsackievirus A16 or enterovirus 71 (EV71). Between 2011 and 2013, HFMD cases were reported from different Cuban provinces. A total of 42 clinical specimens were obtained from 23 patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: To reduce the costs of maintaining a poliovirus immunization base in low-income areas, we assessed the extent of priming immune responses after the administration of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV).
Methods: We compared the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a fractional dose of IPV (one fifth of a full dose) administered intradermally with a full dose administered intramuscularly in Cuban infants at the ages of 4 and 8 months. Blood was collected from infants at the ages of 4 months, 8 months, 8 months 7 days, and 8 months 30 days to assess single-dose seroconversion, single-dose priming of immune responses, and two-dose seroconversion.
Coeliac disease and type 1 diabetes are autoimmune diseases that may share the same initiating environmental factors. In this study, the occurrence of type 1 diabetes associated autoantibodies (GADA and IA-2A) and tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies (TGA) was determined in patients with confirmed viral infections and no signs of type 1 diabetes or coeliac disease. Serum samples from 82 Cuban patients tested positive for PCR and IgG specific to enterovirus (HEV, serotype echovirus 16, 20 samples), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, 20 samples), cytomegalovirus (CMV, 21 samples), and hepatitis C virus (HCV, 21 samples); and sera from 164 controls negative serologically to EBV, CMV, HCV, and echovirus 16 were enrolled in the study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: An outbreak of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis occurred in Cuba in 2008 and 2009.
Objective: To determinate the etiological agent associated with the Cuban outbreaks of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis during 2008 and 2009.
Study Design: Conjunctival swabs and/or faecal samples from 382 patients with clinical diagnosis suggestive of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis were subject to viral culture in HEp-2 human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma cells.
Background: As part of an evaluation of strategies to make inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) affordable for developing countries, we conducted a clinical trial of fractional doses of IPV in Cuba.
Methods: We compared the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of fractional-dose IPV (0.1 mL, or 1/5 of a full dose) given intradermally using a needle-free jet injector device compared with full doses given intramuscularly.
Transmission of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) may occur through various routes including breastfeeding and sexual intercourse. We attempted to detect HHV-8 infection in nine HIV-positive couples discordant for Kaposi's sarcoma who maintained a monogamous sexual relationship for at least one year. By quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and HHV-8 genotyping we provide strong evidence for the sexual transmission of HHV-8 in this unique cohort.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSequence analysis can be used to evaluate transmission networks. We have used retrospective samples to examine two HIV-1 transmission networks established by contact tracing. Regions of the HIV-1 region representing segments of gag and env were amplified by RT-PCR from frozen plasma samples and the sequence of each PCR product was determined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Microbiol Infect
September 2005
A cross-sectional study was performed in 60 Cuban women of child-bearing age who were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 60 controls. Human papillomavirus (HPV) was identified most frequently, with oncogenic HPV serotypes 16, 33 and 58 detected in HIV-positive patients, and serotypes 11, 33 and 51 in the controls (relative risk 4.41; 95% CI 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF