Document 3164
 DOCN  M94A3164
 TI    A study of viral load in HIV-2 infection in a rural community of west
       Africa.
 DT    9412
 AU    Ariyoshi K; Berry N; Wilkins A; Ngom PT; Tedder RS; Whittle H; M.R.C.
       Lab., Gambia, West Africa.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):139 (abstract no. PA0174). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369411
 AB    OBJECTIVES: To determine HIV-2 proviral load in seropositive individuals
       in a rural village in Guinea-Bissau and to investigate the effects of
       aging and co-infection with HTLV-I, malaria and syphilis. METHODS: DNA
       samples from 88 subjects were investigated for quantitative PCR with
       utilising HIV-2 LTR primers and the external standard control made by
       CBL-22 infected C8166 cell line. Biotinylated primer were used to
       capture the 35S dATP incorporated secondary PCR product in a
       quantitative radiometric assay. Sera were tested for TPHA, RPR and
       HTLV-I (Fujirebio). HTLV infection was further examined by a nested PCR
       with tax/rex primers and Taq1/Sau3a enzyme analysis of the product.
       RESULTS: 81/88 samples were positive by HIV-2 nested PCR (sensitivity =
       92%). The mean of HIV-2 proviral copy number (log10) per 10(5) CD4+
       cells in a group with low CD4+ counts (< 200) was 16-fold higher than in
       a group with high CD4+ counts (> or = 500) (mean +/- S.D. 3.15 +/- 0.71
       and 1.95 +/- 1.15 respectively). 25 individuals were found to be
       co-infected with HTLV-I by PCR and the enzyme analysis. Concordant rate
       between HTLV serology and PCR was 82%. CD4% was significantly higher in
       individuals with HTLV co-infection (p < 0.05) nonetheless HIV-2 viral
       load tends to be higher in HTLV co-infected individuals especially in
       the elderly (> or = 60 years) (mean +/- S.D. 2.47 +/- 1.37 vs 1.37 +/-
       1.08). The viral load was lower in the HTLV ve elderly than in the
       young. No significant effect on viral load was seen with malaria or
       syphilis. CONCLUSIONS: The result shows a possible enhancing effect of
       HTLV-I co-infection on HIV-2 viral load despite the CD4% being higher.
       An inverse association between HIV-2 viral load and age was seen,
       suggesting that long-term survival may be associated with low viral
       load.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS/DIAGNOSIS/
       *MICROBIOLOGY  Age Factors  Aging  DNA Primers  Genes, pX  Guinea-Bissau
       Human  HIV Long Terminal Repeat  HIV-2/GENETICS/*ISOLATION & PURIF
       HTLV-I Infections/COMPLICATIONS/DIAGNOSIS
       Malaria/COMPLICATIONS/DIAGNOSIS  Polymerase Chain Reaction/*METHODS
       Proviruses/GENETICS/ISOLATION & PURIF  Restriction Mapping  Rural
       Population  Sensitivity and Specificity
       Syphilis/COMPLICATIONS/DIAGNOSIS  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).