title: Detection of salivary HIV-1-specific IgG antibodies in high-risk populations in Zaire.
abstract: Saliva and blood samples were tested for human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) antibodies in two high-risk populations in Kinshasa, Zaire. In a seroprevalence study of 458 sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic attendees, 142 of 145 seropositive individuals had enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-positive saliva samples (97.9% sensitivity). All saliva samples from seronegative patients were ELISA-negative (100% specificity). Of the 142 ELISA-positive saliva specimens, 137 were also Western blot-positive (94.5% sensitivity). In a subsequent seroincidence study of 315 initially seronegative female prostitutes followed during 183 woman-years of observation, 9 of 14 women who seroconverted (7.7% seroincidence) had ELISA-positive saliva samples at the time seroconversion was detected. Only three of these saliva specimens could be confirmed by Western blot. Although salivary testing for HIV-1 antibodies using conventional assays was not sensitive in detecting recent seroconversions, screening of salivary samples for HIV-1 antibody provides a convenient alternative method for conducting seroprevalence surveys in populations in whom venipuncture is not possible or convenient.
authors.affiliation: Projet SIDA, Kinshasa, Zaire.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Behets
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Edidi
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Atikala
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bishagara
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nzila
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laga
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piot
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Ryder
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011477:Sex Work; D012747:Sexual Partners
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G