Diagnóstico laboratorial de varíola: III - resultados do terceiro ano de atividades

The authors present the results which have been obtained during the third year of work in a Smallpox Diagnosis Laboratory unit set up to support the National Smallpox Eradication Compuign in Brazil. The etcamination of 82 crusts and 70 vesicular/pustular fluid specimens resulted in the isolatkm of 14 and 16 smallpox strains respectively (Table 1). The examination of 32 specimens from Guanabara State resulted in the isolation of 23 smallpox strains (Table 2). Both vaccines prepared on embrionatea hen eggs and prepared on calf skin have been compared ana results were similar in the described conditions. The laboratory is getting regularly more specimens for diagnosis.