title: Epidemiological evidence that HTLV-III is the AIDS agent.
abstract: Human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) is a recently discovered retrovirus with tropism and cytotoxicity for the OKT4+ lymphocytes that are depleted in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In addition to the frequent detection of HTLV-III in patients with AIDS and related syndromes, seroepidemiological studies have shown that HTLV-III can be transmitted by sexual contact and blood transfusion in a manner identical to the putative AIDS agent. Analyses of stored sera have revealed that HTLV-III antibodies appeared in high-risk groups some two years before the disease outbreak, which corresponds to the apparent incubation period in patients with transfusion-associated AIDS. The risk of developing AIDS is clearly associated with HTLV-III seropositivity and may be as high as 20% within three years. Strong evidence that HTLV-III is the AIDS agent mandates aggressive efforts to minimize further sexual, maternal-fetal, and blood-borne transmission of this virus while pursuing vaccine development and antiretroviral therapies.
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies