ELISA HTLV retrovirus antibody reactivity associated with malaria and immune complexes in healthy Africans.
A serological survey of 250 outpatients in rural Zaire showed that the prevalence of antibody against HTLV-I, HTLV-II, and HTLV-III, as detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, correlated strongly with level of antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum. The age curve for the prevalence of antibody against these retroviruses and high titres of antibodies against P falciparum were similar. Tests with control sera obtained from HTLV-III seropositive homosexual men and American subjects repeatedly infected with malaria who had high antibody titres against P falciparum indicated that there was no cross-reactivity between P falciparum and these retroviruses. Immune-complex levels, but not IgG, IgM, or IgE levels, also correlated strongly with seropositivity in the ELISA HTLV-I and HTLV-III assay, although immune-complex-positive control samples were negative. Possible explanations include coincidental distribution paralleling malaria; similar mode of transmission; virus activation and/or enhanced antibody production due to the effect of malaria on the immune system; and false-positive reactivity in the ELISA assay due to cross-reactive antibodies or other unknown factors.
Biggar
R J
RJ
Gigase
P L
PL
Melbye
M
M
Kestens
L
L
Sarin
P S
PS
Bodner
A J
AJ
Demedts
P
P
Stevens
W J
WJ
Paluku
L
L
Delacollette
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex