title: HTLV-III infection in Canada in 1985.
abstract: More than 25 000 serum specimens have been tested for antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) at the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Ottawa, since August 1984. In 1985 the prevalence rates of antibody positivity among selected risk groups were as follows: patients with Kaposi's sarcoma, 77%; patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex (ARC), 66%; patients with hemophilia, 65%; symptomatic homosexual men, 48%; cohabitants of patients with AIDS, ARC or antibody to HTLV-III, 24%; and intravenous drug abusers, 13%. No case of accidental parenteral exposure has resulted in seroconversion. Eight cases of AIDS, all in antibody-positive patients, have been associated with blood transfusions. A testing protocol based on risk-group information is proposed for diagnostic laboratories.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Benning
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: O'Shaughnessy
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002170:Canada; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies