Abstract |
To determine the association between leprosy and human retroviral infections, 57 leprosy patients, 39 leprosy contacts, and 500 pregnant women were investigated serologically for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) and human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) types I and II. Antibodies to Mycobacterium leprae phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I), and lipoarabinomannan ( LAM) were also analyzed. A low prevalence of HIV-1 infection was observed among leprosy patients (3.5%), leprosy contacts (0), and pregnant women (3.6%). Antibodies to HTLV-I but not -II were found more often in leprosy patients (8.7%) and contacts (12.8%) than in pregnant women (0). Sera from leprosy patients and leprosy contacts were often false-positive for HIV-1 by ELISA and were indeterminate by Western blot. LAM IgM and PGL-I IgM antibodies in sera from leprosy patients yielded significant cross-reactivities with HIV-1 pol and gag proteins. These data suggest that mycobacterial cell wall antigens may share common epitopes with HIV. Caution should be exercised when interpreting HIV-1 ELISA and Western blot data from regions where leprosy or other mycobacterial diseases are endemic.
|
Authors | O Kashala, R Marlink, M Ilunga, M Diese, B Gormus, K Xu, P Mukeba, K Kasongo, M Essex |
Journal | The Journal of infectious diseases
(J Infect Dis)
Vol. 169
Issue 2
Pg. 296-304
(Feb 1994)
ISSN: 0022-1899 [Print] United States |
PMID | 7906291
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
|
Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Bacterial
- Antigens, Bacterial
- Gene Products, gag
- Gene Products, pol
- Glycolipids
- HIV Antibodies
- HIV Envelope Protein gp120
- Lipopolysaccharides
- lipoarabinomannan
- phenolic glycolipid I, Mycobacterium leprae
|
Topics |
- Adult
- Antibodies, Bacterial
(immunology)
- Antigens, Bacterial
(immunology)
- Cross Reactions
- Deltaretrovirus Infections
(complications)
- Female
- Gene Products, gag
(immunology)
- Gene Products, pol
(immunology)
- Glycolipids
(immunology)
- HIV Antibodies
(analysis)
- HIV Envelope Protein gp120
(immunology)
- HIV Infections
(complications)
- Humans
- Leprosy
(complications, immunology)
- Lipopolysaccharides
(immunology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mycobacterium leprae
(immunology)
|