Infection of cattle with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) has been observed and reported worldwide, including in Korea. The onsite identification of infected cattle would help decreasing and eradicating BLV infections on farms. Here, we present a new immunochromatographic assay that employs monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) for the detection of antibodies against BLV in the field. BLV envelope glycoprotein (gp)51 was expressed in E. coli, and MAbs against recombinant BLV gp51 were generated for the development of an immunochromatographic assay to detect BLV antibodies in cattle. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were determined by comparing these results with those obtained from a standard enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 160 bovine sera were used to evaluate the new immunochromatographic assay. Using ELISA as a reference standard, the relative specificity and sensitivity of this assay were determined to be 94.7% and 98%, respectively. Because of its high sensitivity and specificity, this BLV antibody detection assay would be suitable for the onsite identification of BLV infection in the field.
Agriculture ; Animals ; Antibodies* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Cattle ; Deltaretrovirus Antibodies ; Deltaretrovirus Infections ; Enzootic Bovine Leukosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glycoproteins ; Immunochromatography* ; Korea ; Leukemia Virus, Bovine* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo study the seroprevalence of human T-cell leukaemia virus type I/II (HTLV-I/II) infection in adult population in the east coastal areas of Fujian and to explore the possible risk factors of HTLV-I/II.

METHODSA total number of 3259 blood samples from drug users, sexually transmitted disease (STD) patients, prostitutes and blood donors for serologic assays during 1999 to 2002, were collected. All samples were screened for HTLV-I/II antibody, using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. All of the positive samples were confirmed by western blot (WB) kits. Statistical analysis was done by Epi software, and chi(2) test by Fisher's exact test. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTSThe overall seroprevalence rate of HTLV-I/II in healthy populations was 0.06% including, 0.32% in drug users, 0.58% in STD patients and prostitutes respectively. HTLV-II had not been found. The seropositive rates for HTLV-I in STD patients and prostitutes were significantly higher than the findings among healthy populations (P < 0.05). There were no different seroprevalence rates between drug users and healthy populations (P > 0.05). No significant changes in HTLV-I prevalence rates were found in the different age groups as well as in Fuzhou and Linde cities (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe result suggested that in the east coastal areas of Fujian province, HTLV-I was the main prevalent virus. The seroprevalence of HTLV-I was very low, with no HTLV-II. Neither age nor gender seemed to be HTLV-I risk factor in the east coastal areas of Fujian province, but the increase of exposure to sex might be one.

China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Viral ; isolation & purification ; Female ; HTLV-I Antibodies ; blood ; HTLV-I Antigens ; immunology ; HTLV-I Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; HTLV-II Antibodies ; blood ; HTLV-II Antigens ; immunology ; HTLV-II Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral ; epidemiology

We report the first Korean case of HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM), which was confirmed by Western blot assay of serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Interestingly, the proband's wife was a Japanese Korean who had lived in the endemic area of HAM, Kyushu. Japan, Investigations revealed significantly elevated anti HTLV-I antibody titers in the serum, but not in the CSF, suggesting that she was a carrier of HTLV-I. Considering that the patient had not had a previous blood transfusion, the most common route of HTLV-I, it is likely that the patient was infected by his wife through sexual intercourse. Although previous reports suggest that the transmission of HTLV-I is essentially from man to man or man to woman, our case suggests that woman to man transmission also occurs.
Adult ; Blotting, Western ; HTLV-I Antibodies/analysis ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/*epidemiology/immunology

HTLV-I infection is a recently recognized disease entity that is common in some tropical and subtropical areas, including the southwestern district of Japan. Despite the geographical proximity and frequent cultural exchanges between Korea and Japan, it is understood that Korea is not an endemic area and HTLV-I-associated illnesses are very rare in Korea. This study was designed to evaluate the positive rate of anti-HTLV-I antibodies in Korean blood donors and its regional distribution. Sera were obtained from blood donors from various districts around Korea. Anti-HTLV-I antibodies were detected by using the microtiter particle agglutination test employing an indirect agglutination technique. A total of 9,281 donors were tested and 12 donors (0.13%) were positive for anti-HTLV-I antibodies, 10 (0.11%) out of 8,845 males and 2 (0.46%) out of 436 females, with relative female predominance. A relatively high incidence of anti-HTLV-I positive donors was observed in Cheju Island (0.80%), Kyungnam (0.31%), and Chonnam (0.15%). In conclusion, the positive rate of anti-HTLV-I antibodies seemed to be very low in Korea, but the highest positive rate of anti-HTLV-I antibodies was noticed on Cheju Island, warranting further research for confirmation.
Adolescence ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Agglutination Tests* ; Blood Donors* ; Child ; Female ; HTLV-I Antibodies/blood* ; Human ; Korea ; Male ; Sex Distribution

BACKGROUND: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is a retrovirus that has been identified as a cause of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and tropical spastic paraparesis. HTLV-I infection is highly endemic in the southwestern islands of Japan, Caribbean basin, South America, and Africa. In 1993, we showed that the seroprevalence of antibodies to HTLV-I was 0.13% among blood donors in Korea, but surprisingly, 0.80% in Cheju-Do adjacent to endemic areas of Japan. So this study was designed to reevaluate the seroprevalence of antibodies to HTLV-I among residents in Cheju-Do. METHODS: Total 2,372 residents in Cheju-Do were tested from December 1995 to March 1996. Anti-HTLV-I antibodies were detected by the microtiter particle agglutination test. RESULTS: Among total 2,372 residents, 19 were anti-HTLV-I positive. So the overall positive rate of anti-HTLV-I antibodies was 0.80%. The positive rate in females was higher than in males (0.82% vs 0.78%). The positive rate was 1.45% in the age group of 20-29 years, 1.41% in 40-49 years, 0.91% in 0-9 years, 0.70% in 30-39 years, and 0.54% in 50-59 years. The mean age of seropositive cases is 35.2 in males and 35.4 in females, with a mean of 35.3. Geographically, high positive rate was observed in Sogwipo-City (1.37%) and Namcheju-Gun (0.83%) compared to those of Pukcheju-Gun (0.64%) and Cheju-City (0.61%), which showed high seroprevalence in districts adjacent to endemic areas of Japan. Any specific risk factors or associated disorders of HTLV-I infection could not be found among the seropositive cases. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of antibodies to HTLV-I in Cheju-Do was noted to be very high by the microtiter particle agglutination test. So henceforth serosurvey by confirmative laboratory tests is needed, and if high seroprevalence is showed from it, screening of blood donors for HTLV-I in Cheju-Do should be considered to prevent transfusion-associated HTLV-I infection.
Adult ; Africa ; Agglutination Tests ; Antibodies ; Blood Donors ; Caribbean Region ; Epidemiology ; Female ; HTLV-I Infections ; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 ; Humans* ; Islands ; Japan ; Jeju-do* ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic ; Retroviridae ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; South America ; T-Lymphocytes*

Hundreds of broadly neutralizing antibodies(bNAbs) were successfully isolated from long-term nonprogression(LTNP) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1) infected individuals. Some bNAbs were illustrated could reduce the viral load and the risk of HIV-1 infection. Today, HIV-1 bNAbs are at the center of vaccine development and passive immunization treatment. Usually, the activity of neutralizing antibodies depends on the epitope. The affinity of neutralizing antibodies also plays a vital role in its inhibitory effect. Multiple affinity maturation in vivo actually provides the broad and potent neutralizing activity of HIV-1 bNAbs. When high affinity HIV-1 bNAbs applied in clinic, it can help immune system to remove virus with lower dosage and fewer side effect. While affinity maturation, HIV-1 bNAbs shows unique characteristics, such as extensive of somatic hypermutation(SHM), in-frame insertion and deletion and long CDR 3 region of heavy chain. The key points in the progress that HIV-1 bNAbs affinity maturation will help us understand the relationship between antibodies neutralizing capability and its characteristics.It also potentially provide a reference to design effective HIV-1 immunogen.
Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ; HIV Antibodies ; HIV Infections ; HIV-1 ; Humans

We report two cass of HIV infection associated with condyeloma acuminatum. Two patients were healthy men who showed multiple pinkish verruc ous papules on the perianal area. Anti-HIV antibodies were detected in the patients' secatory particle agglutination test and confirmed by Western blot assay.
Agglutination Tests ; Antibodies ; Blotting, Western ; HIV Infections ; HIV* ; Humans* ; Male

Acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a transient symptomatic illness associated with high-titer HIV replication and an expansive immunologic response to the invading pathogen. The diagnosis of acute HIV infection is difficult because the symptoms are those of common illnesses and HIV antibodies are usually not detected during the early phase of infection. An accurate early diagnosis is important because of the potential clinical benefit of early antiretroviral therapy, and to prevent the spread of infection. We report a case of acute HIV infection presenting as an acute febrile illness. We started treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the patient is now well with no other complications
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Early Diagnosis ; HIV ; HIV Antibodies ; HIV Infections ; Humans

Objective To propose the blood detection strategies for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among blood donors, and provide reference for the detection, early diagnosis and transmission blocking of HIV. Methods A total of 117 987 blood samples from blood donors were screened using the third- and fourth-generation ELISA HIV detection reagents. Western blot analysis was used to verify the reactive results of the third-generation reagent alone, or both the third-generation and fourth-generation reagents. HIV nucleic acid test was carried out for those with negative test results of the third- and fourth-generation reagents. For those with positive results of the fourth-generation reagent only, nucleic acid test followed by a confirmatory test by Western blot analysis was carried out. Results 117 987 blood samples from blood donors were tested by different reagents. Among them, 55 were tested positive by both the third- and fourth-generation HIV detection reagents at the same time, accounting for 0.047% and 54 cases were confirmed HIV-positive by Western blot analysis, and 1 case was indeterminate, then turned positive during follow-up testing. 26 cases were positive by the third-generation reagent test alone, among which 24 cases were negative and 2 were indeterminate by Western blot analysis. The band types were p24 and gp160 respectively detected by Western blot analysis, and were confirmed to be HIV negative in follow-up testing. 31 cases were positive by the fourth-generation HIV reagent alone, among which 29 were negative by nucleic acid test, and 2 were positive according to the nucleic acid test.Western blot analysis was used to verify that the two cases were negative. However, after 2~4 weeks, the results turned positive when the blood sample was retested by Western blot analysis during the follow-up of these two cases. All the specimens that were tested negative by both the third- and fourth-generation HIV reagents were validated negative by HIV nucleic acid test. Conclusion A combined strategy with both third- and fourth-generation HIV detection reagents can play a complementary role in blood screening among blood donors. The application of complementary tests, such as nucleic acid test and Western blot analysis, can further improve the safety of blood supply, thus contributing to the early diagnosis, prevention, transmission and treatment of blood donors potentially infected by HIV.
Humans ; HIV Infections/diagnosis* ; HIV Antibodies ; Blood Donors ; HIV-1 ; Blotting, Western ; Nucleic Acids

BACKGROUND: From medical care perspective regarding HIV, early detection of HIV is critical in effectively managing its sequelae. People who are aware of the fact that they are infected with HIV significantly reduce high risk behaviors, thus limiting transmission to others compared to individuals who are unaware of their HIV serostatus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HIV rapid test validation study was conducted at Asan medical center using OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test which uses oral fluid specimens for the diagnosis of HIV infection. A total of 57 subjects were tested; 53 individuals were confirmed to have HIV infection by the Western blot analysis and 4 individuals were negative for HIV. RESULTS: The oral fluid specimens from 52 of 53 infected individuals showed positive reaction to the OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test. The test results were negative for the 4 subjects who were negative for HIV. OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test's sensitivity was 98.1%, specificity was 100%, positive predictive value was 100%, and negative predictive value was 80%. CONCLUSION: The recently approved OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test has the ability to detect HIV antibodies comparable to that of confirmatory tests such as Western blot analysis.
Blotting, Western ; HIV ; HIV Antibodies ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Risk-Taking ; Sensitivity and Specificity