HTLV-III infection in Canada in 1985.
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.
Neumann
P W
PW
Benning
B J
BJ
Robinson
D G
DG
Gilmore
N
N
O'Shaughnessy
M V
MV
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
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies