A survey of human T-cell leukaemia virus type I antibodies in patients with malignant disease in the Witwatersrand area

S Afr Med J. 1986 Oct 11;70(8):471-2.

Abstract

The prevalence of antibodies to human T-cell leukaemia virus type I in Africa ranges from 2% to 21% according to the geographical area surveyed. Most studies suggest that the background infection rate in children is low. In paediatric patients with malignant disease in the Witwatersrand area the prevalence is low (1%), whereas a seemingly high rate is found in healthy black children from a restricted rural area (7%). Further, the antibody prevalence in adult whites with lymphoproliferative disease is low (1%) compared with that in blacks with malignant disease (6%). There also appears to be a higher prevalence of positive results in black women (7%) than in black men (4%).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis*
  • Black People
  • Black or African American
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Deltaretrovirus / immunology*
  • Deltaretrovirus Antibodies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Leukemia / immunology
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • South Africa
  • White People

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Deltaretrovirus Antibodies