Overt and latent HIV 1 and HTLV-I infection in cohorts of at high risk individuals in Argentina.

Abstract

We conducted a survey using serology and polymerase chain reaction assays to detect HIV 1 and/or HTLV-I antibodies and viral DNA, respectively, in 113 intravenous drug abusers and in 62 sexually active high risk individuals attending two Drug Addict Centres and a Centre for Venereal Diseases in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the time of the survey 137 of these subjects were known to be HIV 1 seropositive but none of them was symptomatic. Serological tests for HTLV-I were found to be positive in 38 (21.7%) of the HIV 1 positive individuals, whereas all of the 38 HIV 1 seronegative subjects were also seronegative for HTLV-I antibodies. Gene amplification assays carried out in blood sample DNA from the 38 HIV 1/HTLV-I seronegative individuals, revealed HIV 1 DNA in six out of 28 intravenous drug abusers (21.5%). One subject (2.6%) was positive for both HIV 1 and HTLV-I DNA sequences, whereas four (10.5%) showed HTLV-I DNA only. To determine whether these individuals were infected with HTLV-I and/or HTLV-II, DNA samples were also amplified with HTLV-II specific primers and no evidence of HTLV-II infection was observed. None of the subjects seroconverted according to conventional serological tests during the 2 year follow-up period. The 10 seronegative subjects belonging to the sexual risk group were negative for both HIV 1 and HTLV-I in polymerase chain reaction assays. We conclude that not only HIV 1, but also HTLV-I is a widely spread infection in intravenous drug abusers and sexually active high risk individuals in Argentina.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Authors: V Lombardi, M G Carrillo, M Alimandi, M Boxaca, P Rossi, O Libonatti
• Journal: Molecular and cellular probes (Mol Cell Probes) Vol. 5 Issue 6 Pg. 409-17 (Dec 1991) ISSN: 0890-8508 [Print] England
• PMID: 1779979 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• DNA, Viral

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Argentina (epidemiology)
• Base Sequence
• Blotting, Southern
• Blotting, Western
• Cohort Studies
• DNA, Viral
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• HIV Infections (complications, epidemiology)
• HIV Seropositivity (epidemiology)
• HIV Seroprevalence
• HIV-1 (isolation & purification)
• HTLV-I Infections (complications, epidemiology)
• Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Prevalence
• Proviruses (isolation & purification)
• Risk Factors