Anti-bovine viral diarrhoea virus antibodies in adult Zambian patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.
Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus is a cosmopolitan pestivirus of animals which is associated with diarrhoea, immunosuppression and synergy with other pathogens. This study was conducted to establish the prevalence of anti-BVD virus antibodies in healthy Zambian adults and those with asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV disease. Sera from 1159 adults were tested for anti-BVD virus antibodies using the indirect immunofluorescence test and the confirmatory Western blot. Of the 1159 sera examined, 180 (15.5%) showed significantly elevated titres of anti-BVD antibodies. These included 70 out of 477 (14.7%) HIV-negative healthy adults; 73 out of 480 (15.2%) of HIV-positive asymptomatic individuals; 23 out of 129 (17.8%) HIV-seropositive patients with associated illnesses excluding diarrhoea; and 14 out of 73 (19.2%) of HIV-seropositive patients with chronic diarrhoea. HIV-seropositive patients with chronic diarrhoea or associated illnesses appear to have significantly increased seroprevalence of anti-BVD virus antibodies (P = > 0.01). The mechanism of interaction between BVD virus and HIV infections and the synergistic effects with other opportunistic pathogens in humans requires definition.
Giangaspero
M
M
University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Lusaka.
Vacirca
G
G
Morgan
D
D
Baboo
K S
KS
Luo
N P
NP
DuPont
H L
HL
Zumla
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001912:Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D002417:Cattle; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral