Immunoglobulin prophylaxis against HTLV-I in a rabbit model.
We have investigated the protective effect of human T-cell leukemia virus I (HTLV-I) immune globulin (HTLVIG) against HTLV-I in rabbits. HTLVIG containing 77 mg/ml of IgG was prepared from pooled plasma from seropositive healthy persons. In the first experiment, four groups (A, B, C, and D) of three rabbits were transfused with 5 ml blood from an HTLV-I-infected rabbit. Groups A, B, and C were infused 24 h later with 10, 5, and 2 ml HTLVIG, respectively, while group D was infused with 10 ml HTLVIG 48 h later. Seroconversion for HTLV-I occurred in none of group A, one of group B, and all of groups C and D after 2-5 weeks. In the second experiment, four litters (E, F, G, and H) born to another virus-infected rabbit and consisting of 7, 5, 7, and 7 newborns, respectively, were used. Litters E and H were allowed to grow normally as controls, while litters F and G were given intraperitoneal inoculation of 3 ml/kg of HTLVIG weekly four times until weaning. Although three of litters E and H each seroconverted after 5-8 weeks, none of litters F, and one of litter G became antibody-positive after 10 weeks. Presence or absence of HTLV-I infection in all these animals was confirmed by transfusion assay or gene amplification. These results indicate that passive immunization protects rabbits against blood- and milk-borne transmission of HTLV-I.
Miyoshi
I
I
Department of Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Japan.
Takehara
N
N
Sawada
T
T
Iwahara
Y
Y
Kataoka
R
R
Yang
D
D
Hoshino
H
H
D000818:Animals; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D011817:Rabbits
D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies