The Aids Problem in Africa

Absence of antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus in sera from Africa prior to 1975.

“…§1734 solely to indicate this fact. (8) that have been questioned (18,20). The reason for the discrepancy between the earlier and our studies may be a cross-reactivity of some African sera with contaminating cellular antigens in the assay system, nonspecific stickiness of the sera to proteins, or antibodies against a distantly related virus (8,18,20).…”

“…The high incidence of antibodies to HIV was first noted in African sera after 1980 (4,(17)(18)(19)(20) (21)(22)(23), but other factors, including certain cultural practices, concomitant venereal diseases, and shared needles at sexually transmitted disease clinics must be further studied. A similar difference in prevalence of HIV in Haiti and the Dominican Republic located on the same island of Hispaniola has been noted in which the high incidence in Haitians may be explained by their cultural traditions (24).…”

Connective tissue responses in blacks in relation to disease: Further observations

“…Studies of sexual practices in relation to transmission of infectious agents involved in KS in Africa have been difficult (McHardy et al, 1984) but could benefit from anthropological input. The heterosexual spread of AIDS in Africa (Biggar, 1986) requires further study, and cross-cultural differences in sexual practices (e.g., resulting from female circumcision or mutilation) in Africa need to be explored in relation to AIDS (Burton, 1986;Linke, 1986). The role of sexual transmission of infectious agents in cancers (e.g., leiomyosarcomas) in addition to KS is apparently unknown.…”

“…In contrast, recent increases in KS in Africa (Zambia, Uganda, Zaire) have been due to an aggressive form of the disease with a rapidly fatal course and associated with immunosuppression (Bayley, 1984(Bayley, , 1985Biggar, 1986). Classical, endemic KS, however, also may have been related to a n infectious agent-i.e., a virus other than HTLV-III/LAV, which appears to be of relatively recent origin in Africa.…”

Serologic Evidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection of the Central Nervous System in African Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

“…Although general ized lymphadenopathy and pulmonary symptoms are frequently seen in AIDS patients in the Western world, in Africa, gastrointestinal and dermatologic manifesta tions are more commonly observed [4][5][6]. These differ ences are determined largely by the range of endemic and opportunistic infections prevalent in the population [7], Whereas in Europe and America an increasing pro portion of AIDS patients have a subacute or chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalomyeli tis [8][9][10][11], the Africans apparently do not. The neurolog ical complications they experience have been reported as due mainly to cryptococcal meningitis and cerebral toxoplasmosis [12][13][14].…”