HTLV in Sweden: antibodies to HTLV I antigens in experimental monkeys and their caretakers

Seroepidemiology of human retroviruses in Ogun State of Nigeria

We analyzed sera collected during 1987 and 1988 from 385 healthy business employees of both sexes, of Ogun state in Nigeria, for antibodies to the 3 human retroviruses HIV-1, HIV-2 and HTLV-I. No serum was HIV-1 positive, 1 was HIV-2 positive and 2 were HTLV-I positive. A few sera were false-positive in the antibody screening tests which preceded the confirmatory antibody tests. In the confirmatory tests, we found that in the HIV-1 Western blot test 1 serum reacted only with the HIV-1 gag protein p17, and 2 sera reacted only with the HIV-1 pol proteins p64, p53 and p31. None of these reactivities fulfill internationally accepted criteria for HIV-1 seropositivity. We conclude that HIV-1 was rare in the study population and that HIV-2 and HTLV-I are present at a low frequency. The false positive serological reactions observed are similar to those described previously from Africa and elsewhere. The findings emphasize the importance of routinely testing blood donations for antibodies to these retroviruses in Nigeria.

Seroepidemiologic survey of captive Old-World primates for antibodies to human and simian retroviruses, and isolation of a lentivirus from sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys)

Sera from 526 Old-World monkeys and apes, representing 50 species and 20 genera and living in US zoos and vivaria, were screened for antibodies to HTLV-I, HTLV-III/LAV, and simian-AIDS retrovirus, type I (SRV-I). Sera were screened initially by ELISA, and ELISA-positive sera, as well as ELISA-negative sera from cage contacts, were further tested by Western blotting. A large number of false-positive and a small number of false-negative ELISA sera were identified. Although most true positive reactions were directed to a single retrovirus, a number of individuals from 4 species were positive for more than one retrovirus. Specific seroreactivity to HTLV-I was found in 39/526 (7%) animals of 15 species. True positive reactions to SRV-I were found in 21/516 (4%) animals, including talapoins and 2 species of macaques. Specific serologic reactions to HTLV-III/LAV were detected in 23/526 (4%) monkeys. Many of the HTLV-III/LAV seropositive animals were from one mixed-species zoo exhibit, containing sooty mangabeys, mandrills, Kolb's guenons, and talapoins. A type D virus was isolated from the blood of 3/10 SRV-I antibody-positive Tonkeana macaques, but from none of 11 seropositive talapoins. A lentivirus was isolated from the blood of 4/7 HTLV-III/LAV seropositive sooty mangabeys, but not from seropositive talapoins in the same exhibit or from 2 seropositive colobus from another zoo. The sooty mangabey lentivirus produced generalized lymphadenopathy, leukopenia, and decreased levels of T4 lymphocytes in 2 experimentally infected rhesus macaques.

Immunoglobulin G antibodies binding to a synthetic peptide deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the env gene of HTLV I in patients with leukemia and rheumatoid arthritis, HLA sensitized persons and blood donors

A synthetic pentadecapeptide preparation, env 406-420, with an amino acid sequence deduced from the envelope glycoprotein gene of human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV I), was used as the antigen in an enzyme immunoassay for immunoglobulin G antibodies, exploring its usefulness for seroepidemiological purposes. The frequency of reactivity in the test groups, presented in decreasing order was: patients with rheumatoid arthritis; multitransfused nonleukemic patients; Japanese cases of adult T cell leukemia (ATL); HLA sensitized persons; Swedish cases of adult acute leukemia; and Swedish blood donors. Three American cases of ATL and 12 HTLV I seropositive monkeys did not react. In RF positive sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, no quantitative correlation between RF activity and anti-env 406-420 activity was seen. Anti-env 406-420 positive sera did not react or reacted only weakly with four control peptide preparations with different amino acid sequences. The experience with oligopeptide serology still is limited. Our results illustrate that unexpected cross-reactions which are hard to interpret can occur. Although absorption experiments indicated an HTLV I specific component of the reactivity, antibodies against epitopes of allo- and auto-immune specificity may also have participated.