Skip to main content
Log in

Seroepidemiology of HTLV-III (LAV) in the Federal Republic of Germany

  • Wissenschaftliche Kurzmitteilungen
  • Published:
Klinische Wochenschrift Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

In 1984 10,281 sera were collected in the FRG and examined for antibodies to HTLV-III (LAV) with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmative tests. Of the German AIDS patients 81% have antibodies. Individuals belonging to AIDS risk groups, homosexuals, haemophiliacs and i.v. drug abusers, have antibody frequencies between 25%–72%. The detection of HTLV-III antibodies in blood donours indicates that the virus is being transmitted by blood transfusions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Abbreviations

AIDS:

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

LAS:

lymphadenopathy syndrome

ARC:

AIDS related complex

LAV:

lymphadenopathy associated virus

HTLV-III:

human T-lymphotropic virus type III

HBV:

hepatitis B virus

References

  1. Barre-Sinoussi F, Chermann JC, Rey F, Nugeyre T, Chamaret S, Gruest J, Dauguet C, Axler-Blin C, Vezinet-Brun F, Rouzioux C, Rozenbaum W, Montagnier L (1983) Isolation of a T-lymphotropic retrovirus from a patient at risk for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Science 220:868–871

    Google Scholar 

  2. Gallo RC, Salahudin SZ, Popovic M, Shearer GM, Kaplan M, Haynes BF, Palker TJ, Redfield R, Oleske J, Safai B, White G, Foster P, Markham PD (1984) Frequent detection and isolation of cytopathic retroviruses (HTLV-III) from patients with AIDS and at risk for AIDS. Science 224:500–503

    Google Scholar 

  3. Gazzard BG, Shanson DC, Farthing C, Lawrence AG, Tedder RS, Cheingsong-Popov R, Dalgleish A, Weiss RA (1984) Clinical findings and serological evidence of HTLV-III infection in homosexual contacts of patients with AIDS and persistent generalized lymphadenopathy in London. Lancet 2:480–483

    Google Scholar 

  4. Klatzmann D, Barre-Sinoussi F, Gluckman JC, Nugeyre MT, Dauguet C, Vilmer E, Brun-Vezinet F, Griscelli C, Rouzioux C, Chermann JC, Montagnier L (1984) Selective tropism for the helper/inducer T-lymphocyte subset of a new human retrovirus (LAV) associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Science 225:59–63

    Google Scholar 

  5. Francis DP, Feorino PM, Broderson JR, McClure HM, Getchell JP, McGrath CR, Swenson B, McDougal JS, Palmer EL, Harrison AK, Barre-Sinoussi F, Chermann JC, Montagnier L, Curran JW, Cabradilla CD, Kalyanaraman VS (1984) Infection of chimpanzees with lymphadenopathy-associated virus. Lancet 2:1276–1277

    Google Scholar 

  6. Alter HJ, Eichberg JW, Masur H, Saxinger WC, Gallo R, Macher AM, Lane HC, Fauci AS (1984) Transmission of HTLV-III infection from human plasma to chimpanzees: An animal model for AIDS. Science 226:549–552

    Google Scholar 

  7. Safai B, Groopman JE, Popovic M, Schüpbach J, Sarngadharan MG, Arnett K, Sliski A, Gallo RC (1984) Seroepidemiological studies of human T-lymphotropic retrovirus type III in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Lancet 1:1438–1440

    Google Scholar 

  8. Centers for Disease Control (1984) Antibodies to a retrovirus etiologically associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in populations with increased incidence of syndrome. MMWR 33:377–379

    Google Scholar 

  9. Sarngadharan MG, Popovic M, Bruch L, Schüpbach J, Gallo RC (1984) Antibodies reactive with human T-lymphotropic retroviruses (HTLV-III) in the serum of patients with AIDS. Science 224:65–69

    Google Scholar 

  10. Spira TJ, Des Jarlais DC, Marmor M, Yancovitz S, Friedman S, Garber J, Cohen H, Cabradilla C, Kalyanaraman VC (1984) Prevalance of antibody to lymphadenopathy-associated virus among drug-detoxification patients in New York. N Engl J Med 311:467–468

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hehlmann R, Kreeb G, Erfle V, Piechowiak H, Krüger G, Goebel FD (1984) Antibodies to HTLV-III in patients with acquired immunodeficiency or lymphadenopathy syndrome in West Germany. Lancet 2:1094

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hehlmann R, Kreeb G, Erfle V, Piechowiak H, Krüger G, Goebel FD (1985) IgG-antibodies to HTLV-III in patients with AIDS, LAS, and persons at risk of AIDS in West Germany. Blut 50:13–18

    Google Scholar 

  13. Erfle V, Hehlmann R, Mellert W, Krüger G, Seifried E, Rasokat H, Holzer E, Hellstern P, Köhler M, Goebel FD (1985) Prevalence of antibodies to HTLV-III in AIDS risk groups in West Germany. Cancer Res (in press)

  14. Bayer H, Bienzle U, Schneider J, Hunsmann G (1984) HTLV-III antibody frequency and severity of lymphadenopathy. Lancet 2:1347

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hunsmann G, Schneider J, Bayer H, Jurkiewicz E, Yamamoto N (1984) Structural and epidemiological features of primate lymphotropic retroviruses (PLRV). (in press)

  16. Kurth R, Mikschy U, Tondera C, Lizonova A, Brede HD, Helm EB, Bergmann L, Frank H, Popovic M, Gallo RC (1984) HTLV-III-Infektionen bei Patienten mit AIDS und Lymphadenopathie-Syndrom. Munch Med Wochenschr 46:1363–1368

    Google Scholar 

  17. Wernicke D, v d Helm K, Abb J, Eberle J, Zoulek G, Pleyl G, Deinhardt F, Riethmüller G, Ziegler-Heitbrock WL, Rieber EP, Braun-Falco O, Ring J, Brunner R, Piechowiak H (1984) Antikörper gegen menschliches T-Zell-Leukämie-Virus Typ III bei erworbenem Immundefekt-Syndrom und persistierender Lymphadenopathie. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 45:1709–1711

    Google Scholar 

  18. Gürtler LG, Wernicke D, Eberle J, Zoulek G, Deinhardt F, Schramm W (1984) Increase in prevalence of anti-HTLV-III in haemophiliacs. Lancet 2:1275–1276

    Google Scholar 

  19. Wernet P, Schneider EM, Ostendorf P, Barre-Sinoussi F, Cherman JC, Bayer H, Hunsmann G, Brackmann HH, Kessler M, Egli H (1984) Absence of LAV/HTLV-III antibodies in haemophiliacs substituted with heat-treated factor VIII concentrates. Lancet (in press)

  20. Schneider J, Bayer H, Bienzle U, Hunsmann G (1984) A Glycopolypeptide (gp 100) is the main antigen detected by HTLV-III antisera. Med Microbiol Immunol (in press)

  21. Cheingsong-Popov R, Weiss RA, Dalgleish A, Tedder RS, Jeffries DJ, Shanson DC, Ferns RB, Briggs EM, Weller IVD, Mitton S, Adler MW, Farthing C, Lwrence AG, Gazzard BG, Weber J, Harris JRW, Pinching AJ, Craske J, Barbara JAJ (1984) Prevalence of antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus type III in AIDS and AIDS-risk patients in Britain. Lancet 2:477–480

    Google Scholar 

  22. Brun-Vezinet F, Rouzioux C, Montagnier L, Chamaret S, Gruest J, Barre-Sinoussi F, Geroldi D, Cherman JC, McCormick J, Mitchell S, Piot P, Taelman H, Mirlangu KB, Wobin O, Mbendi N, Mazebo P, KaLambayi K, Bridts C, Desmyter J, Feinsod FM, Quinn TC (1984) Prevalence of antibodies to lymphadenopathy-associated retrovirus in African patients with AIDS. Science 226:453–456

    Google Scholar 

  23. Mathez D, Leibowitch J, Matheron S, Saimot AG, Catalan P, Zagurid D (1984) Antibodies to HTLV-III associated antigens in populations exposed to AIDS virus in France. Lancet 2:460

    Google Scholar 

  24. Des Jarlais DC, Chamberland ME, Weinberg P, Friedman SR (1984) Heterosexual partners: a large risk group for AIDS. Lancet 2:1346–1347

    Google Scholar 

  25. Curran JW, Lawrence DN, Jaffe H, Kaplan JE, Zyla LD, Chamberland M, Weinstein R, Kung-Jong Lui, Schonberger LB, Spira TJ, Alexander WJ, Singer G, Amman A, Solomon S, Auerbach D, Mildvan D, Stoneburner R, Jason JM, Haverkos HW, Evatt BL (1984) Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) associated with transfusions. N Engl J Med 310:69–75

    Google Scholar 

  26. O'Duffy JF, Isles AF (1984) Transfusion-induced AIDS in four premature babies. Lancet 2:1346

    Google Scholar 

  27. Schneider J, Bayer H, Bienzle U, Wernet P, Hunsmann G (1985) Antibodies against LAV/HTLV-III in German blood donors. Lancet 1:(in press)

  28. Erfle V, Hehlmann R, Mellert W, Seifried E, Rasokat H, Lechler E, Hellstern P, Köhler M, Goebel FD, Heimpel H (1985) Presence of HTLV-III antibodies in patients chronically substituted with blood products. (In manuscript)

  29. Egli JE, Wernet P, Brackmann HH, Kessler M (1984) AIDS in the Federal Republic of Germany. Proc Int Hemophilia Soc Tokyo (in Press)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hunsmann, G., Schneider, J., Bayer, H. et al. Seroepidemiology of HTLV-III (LAV) in the Federal Republic of Germany. Klin Wochenschr 63, 233–235 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01731176

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01731176

Key words

Navigation