Immunofluorescence assay reactivity patterns of serum samples presenting indeterminate Western blot results for antibodies to HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II in Cordoba, Argentina.
Serum samples (n: 110) from blood donors and high risk individuals from Cordoba, Argentina with indeterminate HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II Wb profiles were studied for specific antibodies to HTLV-I/II and HIV-1 by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and for the presence or absence of HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II specific bands by Wb. This study was carried out in order to characterize their putative reactions with HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II proteins and to resolve the retrovirus infection status of these individuals. Results indicated that blood donors sera displaying indeterminate HIV-1 or HTLV-I/II Wb patterns were not immunoreactive to HTLV-I/II and HIV-1 on IFA. However, a high rate of indeterminate HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II Wb samples from high risk individuals had positive HTLV-I/II and HIV-1 IFA results respectively. Our study supports the growing evidence that HTLV-HIV indeterminate seroreactivity in low risk population is due to a cross reaction against nonviral antigens, and in high risk populations the indeterminate samples show serological cross-recognition between HIV-1 proteins and HTLV-I/II proteins on Wb. These results point out the necessity to investigate the HTLV-I/II reactivity in indeterminate HIV-1 samples and vice versa in order to confirm the diagnosis. Finally, this study shows the potential usefulness of IFA in elucidating the status of HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II infection of individuals with indeterminate Wb profiles, thus enabling resolution of retrovirus infection status.
Gastaldello
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Institute of Virology Dr. J. M. Vanella, Faculty of Medical Science, National University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina. sgallego@cmefcm.uncor.edu
Gallego
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Isa
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Maturano
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Sileoni
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Nates
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Medeot
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D001118:Argentina; D001782:Blood Donors; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003429:Cross Reactions; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies