HTLV and AIDS in France

Radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunoassay of antibodies to the core protein (P24) of human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV III)

Human T-cell lymphotropic viruses designated HTLV III or LAV are considered to represent the causative agent(s) of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Individuals who have been infected with these viruses may generally be identified on the basis of a positive serological test for antibodies against the protein components of these viruses. Purified viruses or viral proteins have been utilized for developing such tests. Since AIDS may be transmitted by blood transfusion and by blood products, screening of donors for antibodies to HTLV III/LAV has become a necessity. Such screening may be facilitated by the application of assays based on the use of crude virus-infected tissue culture media avoiding elaborate, expensive and potentially hazardous virus purification steps. Serum specimens were mixed with an appropriate dilution of an HTLV III-infected tissue culture-derived fraction, obtained by precipitation with polyethylene glycol 6000 and treatment with Tween 80 and tri-n-butylphosphate (to disrupt virus particles), and incubated with polystyrene beads coated with antibodies to HTLV III/LAV (anti-HTLV III). Subsequently, washed beads were incubated with either 125I- or beta-lactamase-labeled anti-HTLV III. The radioactivity or enzymatic activity associated with the beads was proportionate to the quantity of HTLV III antigen originally added to the beads. The presence of anti-HTLV III in serum specimens resulted in decreased antigen binding and thus in decreased radioactivity or diminished beta-lactamase activity associated with the beads. The test was specific for antibodies to the approximately equal to 24 kDa core protein of HTLV III. The prevalence of these antibodies (given in parentheses) in distinct populations was as follows: random blood donors (0.33%); hemophiliacs (36.4%); random homosexual males (25.1%); homosexual males preselected on the basis of positive markers for infection with hepatitis B virus (50%); and those with persistent lymphadenopathy (70%).

Antibodies to adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV/HTLV-I) in AIDS patients and people at risk of AIDS in Germany

A total of 2048 serum samples from Germany were examined for antibodies to adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV) structural polypeptides with an enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmative immuno precipitation. The origin of the sera samples was: 850 samples taken for virological or protozoal diagnosis; 626 samples from male homosexuals, about 20% of whom had lymphadenopathy syndrome; 164 from hemophiliacs; 184 were from multiple transfused, mostly dialysis patients; 9 from intravenous drug abusers; 182 from suspected cases of acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 33 from AIDS-patients. In none of these sera did we detect antibodies to ATLV, except in the serum of one patient who had been on hemodialysis for over 11 years. Obviously infection with ATLV or a serologically related agent is very rare in our country and an association with AIDS could not be observed.