Slim disease: a new disease in Uganda and its association with HTLV-III infection

Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/HTLV-III/LAV): a review

The literature on the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/HTLV-III/LAV) is reviewed. HIV spreads by vertical transmission and by iatrogenic transmission (transfer of blood or blood-containing products), by infected needles among i.v. drug users and, more rarely, among health care workers, but mainly by sexual contact. In Western countries the virus is mainly spread by passive anal intercourse among homosexuals and seldom by heterosexual intercourse. In African countries, however, the virus is mainly spread by heterosexual intercourse, probably because of other, concurring sexually transmitted diseases. Some preventive measures are discussed.

Pathogenesis of lentivirus infections

Following infection of animals or humans, lentiviruses play a prolonged game of hide and seek with the host's immune system which results in a slowly developing multi-system disease. Emerging knowledge of the disease processes is of some relevance to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is caused by a virus possessing many of the characteristics of a lentivirus.

Further experience with Kaposi's sarcoma in Uganda

Four Ugandan patients (1 women, 3 men) with generalized Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) were seen in the Uganda Cancer Institute between October 1983 and December 1984. They presented with generalized lymphadenopathy, plaques/nodules on the body, general swelling of the head, oral and visceral involvement and respiratory distress. Initial responses to adriamycin as a single or a combination chemotherapy of actinomycin D, vincristine, adriamycin and imidazole carboxamide appeared to be favourable but no sustained response was obtained. Serological tests for human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-II) antibodies were positive in all 4 cases.