[Evaluation of methods for the detection of syncytial respiratory virus in nasopharyngeal secretions]. / Valoración de métodos de detección de virus respiratorio sincitial en secreciones nasofaríngeas.

The screening for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in nasopharyngeal secretions with enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) has been evaluated in infants and young children with acute respiratory infection. Both methods were compared with viral isolation in HEp-2 cells and the investigation of fluorescent foci in cell cultures inoculated by centrifugation. 226 samples were evaluated by IFF, 182 of which were also evaluated by ELISA while 158 were inoculated into cell cultures. 20.35% of samples were positive with IFF and 19.23% with ELISA. Isolation of RSV was obtained in 25 of the samples inoculated into HEp-2 cells (15.8%). The cytopathic effect took a mean of 5.4 days to develop. The investigation of fluorescent foci in centrifugated cultures allowed to detect 76% of positive samples 24 hours after centrifugation and 84% of positive samples 48 hours after it. Considering the viral isolation as the reference method, IIF and ELISA had a 88% and 76% sensitivity, respectively, with very similar specifities (90.2% and 91.7%).

Histopathology of experimental Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis.

Histopathological studies in rabbit's eyes, 7 and 14 days after intracorneal inoculation with 1 X 10(5) Aspergillus fumigatus conidia have been performed. Similar lesions were found in both periods with fungal hyphae in the anterior third of corneal stroma, round cell infiltration from the sclero-corneal edge and in the anterior chamber and, neovascularization. No lesions were found in the Descemet's membrane. Gomori silver-methenamine stain with hematoxiline-eosine counter-stain was found to be the most reliable stain to detect fungal presence in corneal stroma, and Masson's trichromic stain in the study of pathological changes in ocular elements.

Sequential variation in genomic RNA patterns of human rotaviruses isolated from infantile gastroenteritis.

The incidence and RNA electrophoretypes of rotaviral isolates obtained from infants and young children with acute gastroenteritis were studied from October, 1985 through April, 1986. Analysis of the viral RNA was carried out by Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining. Fourteen electrophoretypes were identified. A single dominant electrophoretype was found during the first months of the rotavirus seasonal outbreak. In contrast, a large variety of RNA patterns were observed during the latter portion of the study period. Subgrouping of rotavirus isolates by a double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monoclonal-detecting antibodies showed that all strains belonged to subgroup II. Mixed rotavirus electrophoretypes appeared in 4 cases (8.16 %).

On a étudié l'incidence et les profils électrophorétiques de l'ARN génomique des souches de rotavirus obtenues d'octobre 1985 à avril 1986, de gastroentérites aiguës de l'enfant. L'analyse de l'ARN par électrophorèse sur gel de polyacrylamide a permis l'identification de 14 électrophorétypes différents. Pendant les premiers mois de la période d'étude, on a détecté un électrophorétype dominant; au contraire, dans les mois suivants, on a observé une grande variété de profils électrophorétiques.La détermination des sous-groupes des rotavirus par analyse immunoenzy-matique avec des anticorps monoclonaux détecteurs, a permis de constater que toutes les souches sont du sous-groupe II. Dans 4 échantillons (8.16 %) on a détecté des électrophorétypes mixtes.

Effect of antigen used in the detection of anti-Candida albicans antibodies.

Antigens of different origins were used in the investigation of anti-Candida albicans antibodies. This can influence the results obtained. We have assayed three different antigenic preparations weekly for 8 weeks in the study of anti-C. albicans antibodies induced by cutaneous, digestive, and systemic inoculations with C. Albicans ATCC 26555 in rabbits free of specific antibodies, and using indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), direct agglutination (DA) and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) as serological methods. In IIF and DA, two antigens were used (C. albicans ATCC26555 and C. albicans NCPF3153). In CIE we also used a third commercial antigen. All three somatic antigens were used at three different concentrations. Using IIF and DA the titres obtained with both antigens were similar in different inoculations. The IIF was somewhat earlier in the detection of antibodies, and the titre reached was higher when the antigen used was obtained from the inoculated strain. The detection of precipitins by CIE was in most cases only positive with the antigen obtained from the homologous strain, the highest level being reached in the systemic inoculation.

Effect of cutaneous and digestive colonization in the induction of anti-Candida albicans antibodies: experimental study.

Candida albicans colonization induces antibodies, which must be taken into account in the serological diagnosis of candidiasis. In order to determine the degree of this effect, an experimental study in rabbits free of specific anti-Candida antibodies by cutaneous and digestive inoculation has been carried out. The evolution of humoral response was studied over 8 weeks by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), direct agglutination (DA), counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and double diffusion (DD). The cutaneous colonization detectable by culture was maintained until the second week in 70% of the animals and the presence of antibodies detectable by IIF and DA was observed after the 2nd week. The highest antibody titre by IFF and DA was 1/64, and was reached in the 5th week, with a tendency to drop in the following weeks. Precipitins were only detected by CIE in 15% of the animals in the 7th week. Elimination of yeast in stools continued only in 20% of the animals in the 2nd week of the experiment. Antibodies were detected by IIF and DA after the 2nd week, with the highest titres detectable by IFF in the 5th week. Precipitant antibodies detectable by CIE appeared in 15% of the animals in the 8th week.

Chemotherapy of Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis: an experimental study.

An experimental Keratitis study of Aspergillus fumigatus was performed in 130 rabbits divided into 12 groups of ten animals each. Three antifungal drugs (myconazole, amphotericin B and pimaricin) were tested using two procedures (topical drops and subconjunctival injections) and two different concentrations (500 and 10 000 times the MIC). In each case, the drugs were applied every 3 h starting 14 h after inoculation. Miconazole was useful at 10 mg/ml concentration by topical drops and subconjunctival injections, but was less useful at 5 mg/ml. Amphotericin B was useful at 5 mg/ml concentration by topical drops and less useful at 2 mg/ml. No differences were found between the two concentrations by subconjunctival administration. Pimaricin was useful by topical drops at 50 mg/ml concentration and less useful at 10 mg/ml as well as by subconjunctival injections.

[Non-gonococcal urogenital infections: etiology]. / Infecciones urogenitales no gonocócicas: etiología.

1,109 patients suffering from non-gonococcal urogenital infections have been studied. 63.4% of the patients had genital discharge. Microorganisms were found in 685 patients (61.8%), only one agent being isolated in 73.6% and two in 22.1% of the cases respectively. The rest of the patients had an association of three or more microorganisms. In women, the most frequently identified microorganism was Candida sp (29.9%), followed by U. urealyticum (20.5%) and G. vaginalis (19.7%). In men, U. realyticum (40.1%) was the most frequent followed by C. Trachomatis (21.4%) and M. hominis (16.6%).

[Non-gonococcal urethritis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis: factors affecting its incidence]. / Uretritis no gonocócica por Chlamydia trachomatis: factores que influyen en su incidencia.

A retrospective study to investigate the relationship between the isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis and other factors occurring in 146 patients suffering of non-gonococcal urethritis, has been released 39 being positive for C. trachomatis. The relationship between the isolation of C. trachomatis and previous antibiotic treatment, age, sexual different contacts in the last month and year has been studied. The main feature affecting the isolation is the absence of antimicrobial therapy a previously to the specimen collection and being performed after four days post-contact.