HTLV-III serology distinguishes atypical and endemic Kaposi's sarcoma in Africa.
Serum samples from African patients with Kaposi's sarcoma and acquired-immuno-deficiency-syndrome-related (AIDS-related) disorders and from normal subjects in Uganda and Zambia were tested for antibodies to the human T-lymphotropic retroviruses (HTLV) types I, II, and III. Nearly 90% of patients with AIDS-related disorders or with atypical, aggressive Kaposi's sarcoma were seropositive for HTLV-III in both countries, whereas only 17% of patients with classic endemic Kaposi's sarcoma were seropositive. Among the controls 20% were seropositive for HTLV-III in Uganda but only 2% in Zambia. None of the subjects tested had antibodies to HTLV-I or HTLV-II. These results are further evidence of the emergence of a clinically atypical form of Kaposi's sarcoma in Africans, which resembles that seen in American patients with AIDS, and which is associated with HTLV-III infection. The low frequency of antibodies to HTLV-III in the normal Zambian population together with the first appearance of HTLV-III-associated diseases during the past 2 years suggests that this virus is new to Zambia, although it may have been present in Uganda for longer.
Bayley
A C
AC
Downing
R G
RG
Cheingsong-Popov
R
R
Tedder
R S
RS
Dalgleish
A G
AG
Weiss
R A
RA
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014454:Uganda; D015024:Zambia
D000914:Antibodies, Viral