BackgroundPreviously, we had shown that persons infected with human T-cell lymphoma leukemia virus 1 or 2 (HTLV-1 or 2) had an increased prevalence of antibodies to a peptide in the Pol protein of the retrovirus HERV-K10, homologous to a peptide in HTLV gp21 envelope protein. The prevalence rate was higher in those with myelopathy vs. non-myelopathy. We have now extended our observations to a cohort restricted to North America in whom the diagnosis of HTLV myelopathy was rigorously confirmed to also test for reactivity to another HERV-K10 peptide homologous to the HTLV p24 Gag protein.MethodsSera from 100 volunteer blood donors (VBD), 53 patients with large granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGLL), 74 subjects with HTLV-1 or 2 infection (58 non-myelopathy and 16 myelopathy) and 83 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were evaluated in ELISA assays using the above peptides.ResultsThe HTLV myelopathy patients had a statistically significant increased prevalence of antibodies to both HERV-K10 peptides (87.5%) vs. the VBD (0%), LGLL patients (0%), MS patients (4.8%), and the HTLV positive non-myelopathy subjects (5.2%).ConclusionThe data suggest that immuno-cross-reactivity to HERV-K10 peptides and/or transactivation of HERV-K10 expression by the HTLV Tax protein may be involved in the pathogenesis of HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis and spastic ataxia.
The primate T-cell lymphoma viruses (PTLV) are divided into six distinct species. The biology and epidemiology of PTLV-1 and PTLV-2 are very well understood. However, that of PTLV-3, 4, 5, and 6 are not. Recently, in Cameroon, three and one humans were shown to be infected with HTLV-3 and HTLV-4, respectively. We undertook a study to ascertain whether any of these two retroviruses were present in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA of New York State subjects deemed at risk for PTLV infection. Samples were analyzed by PTLV-3 and PTLV-4 specific PCR assays from the following human and simian subject types: African-American medical clinic patients; HTLV EIA+, WB indeterminate blood donors; intravenous drug users; patients with leukemia, lymphoma, myelopathy, polymyositis, or AIDS; and African chimpanzees. None of the 1200 subjects was positive for HTLV-3 or 4. The data indicate that, at the time of sample collection, no evidence exists for the dissemination of HTLV-3 or 4 to New York State. Continued epidemiological studies are warranted to explore the worldwide prevalence rates and dissemination patterns of HTLV-3 and 4 infections, and their possible disease associations.
Previously, we had shown that although only 8% of patients with large granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGLL) were infected with human T cell lymphoma/leukemia virus (HTLV)-2, almost half had antibodies to HTLV Gag and Env peptides. Herein, we investigated whether this could be due to cross-reactive antibodies to two homologous peptides in the Gag protein of the endogenous retrovirus HTLV-related endogenous sequence-1 (HRES-1). In addition, we had previously shown that patients with HTLV neurodegenerative diseases had increased seroreactivity to homologous HERV-K10 endogenous retrovirus peptides. Hence, in this study we also examined whether these patients had increased seroreactivity to the aforementioned HRES-1 Gag peptides. Sera from 100 volunteer blood donors (VBD), 53 patients with LGLL, 74 subjects with HTLV-1 or 2 infection (58 nonmyelopathy and 16 myelopathy), and 83 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were evaluated. The HTLV-positive myelopathy (HAM) patients had a statistically increased prevalence of antibodies to both HRES-1 Gag peptides (81%) vs. the VBD (0%), LGLL patients (13%), and MS patients (1%), and the HTLV-positive nonmyelopathy subjects (21%). The data suggest that cross-reactivity to HRES-1 peptides could be involved in the pathogenesis of HAM. The difference between the VBD and LGLL patients was also statistically significant, also suggesting a possible association in a minority of patients.
Pattern of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in 1027 male patients admitted during 1990 to 1996 were analysed. MJYority of cases (86%) were in age group of 20 to 40 years. Out of total 1027 SID cases 334 (32%) were having chancroid, 237 (23%) syphllis, 122 (11.9%) lymphogranuloma venereum, 130 (12.6%) gonorrhoea, 34 (3.3%) Herpes genital1s and 170 (16.5%) other STDs. 167 STD cases (16.3%) were found to have mvinfection. A rising trend in prevalence ofHlV infection in SID patients from 2.8% (1990) to 27.8 (1996) was noticed contrary to declining trend of STDs from 213 cases in 1990 to 79 cases in 1996. The prevalence of HlV infection was 30.3% in LGV, 19.3% in chancroid, 13.5% in syphllis, 17.6% in herpes genitalls, 6.7% in gonorrhoea and 11.2% in other SID cases.Out of total 167 SID cases having HIV infection 65 (40%) cases were of chancroid, 37 (22.2%) of LGV, 32(19.2%) of syphllis, 8 (4.8) of gonorrhoea, and 6(3.6% ) of herpes genital1s while 17 (10.2) cases were having other STDs. MJAFI 1fJ9fJ;
Haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) caused by Pasteurella multocida serotype B:2 is an economically important disease of cattle and buffalo, causes heavy economic losses due to sudden death of animals in developing countries like Pakistan. In this country, animals are vaccinated by alum (adjuvant) precipitated vaccine twice a year. Immunity induced through this prophylactic measure lasts for 3-4 months only. Two new HS oil based vaccines were prepared by using two new oil adjuvants such as Eolane-150 and Eolane-170. The ratio of bacterial antigen and oil adjuvants was 1:1 while bacterial dry weight was adjusted to 2 mg/ml. The addition of enrichments and aeration resulted in dense bacterial growth of Pasteurella multocida. Both new vaccines passed sterility, safety and potency tests as per OIE, 2017. Active and passive Mouse Protection Tests were performed to evaluate its potency. Indirect Haem-Agglutination (IHA) test was conducted on serum samples of two rabbits, groups each of which was vaccinated with HS oil based vaccines adjuvanted with Eolane-150 and Eolane-170. IHA indicated that immune response was higher (GMT=32) initially on 45th day to 75th day post vaccination and then declined (GMT=16) in the rabbits vaccinated with HS vaccine adjuvanted with Eolane-150, while protective immune response remained constant (GMT=16) up to ninety days post vaccination in the rabbits vaccinated with HS vaccine adjuvanted with Eolane-170. Vaccines were easy to inject with no side effects, including swelling at the injection site and longer protection as well. That would hopefully motivate the livestock owners and farmers to use this new product to protect their animals against this fatal HS disease.
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