title: 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.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Karolinska Instituet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alimandi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boxaca
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Libonatti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011533:Proviruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral