Serum antibodies to human T-cell leukaemia virus type I in different ethnic groups and in non-human primates in South Africa
Date
1985
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Health & Medical Publishing Group
Abstract
The prevalence of humoral antibodies to human T-cell leukaemia virus type I (HTLV-I) was investigated in different ethnic groups and in non-human primates in South Africa. Serum antibody levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using either disrupted whole HTLV-I or purified p24 core protein (p24 HTLV-I) as antigens. ELISA was complemented by direct radio-immunoprecipitation assays using either purified iodinated p24 HTLV-I or radiolabelled lysates of an HTLV-producing cell line as antigen followed by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the immunoprecipitates, and by immunofluorescence using the HTLV-I-producing cell line HUT-102 as antigen. Antibodies were demonstrated in 3,5% of Asians, 3,5% of blacks and 4,1% of coloureds, but not in whites, and also in 29% of vervet monkeys and 33% of baboons. We conclude that HTLV-I or closely related viruses cause widespread infection in non-human primates in South Africa and in a lower percentage of humans, including apparently healthy blood donors. We are currently isolating retroviruses from seropositive reactors and investigating the possible relevance to disease in South Africa.
Description
CITATION: Becker, W. B., Becker, M. L. B. & Homma, T. 1985. Serum antibodies to human T-cell leukaemia virus type I in different ethnic groups and in non-human primates in South Africa. South African Medical Journal, 67:445-449.
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za
Keywords
Leukemia