Prevalence of HTLV-III/LAV in household contacts of patients with confirmed AIDS and controls in Kinshasa, Zaire
Mann, J.M.; Quinn, T.C.; Francis, H.; Nzilambi, N.; Bosenge, N.; Bila, K.; McCormick, J.B.; Ruti, K.; Asila, P.K.; Curran, J.W.
JAMA 256(6): 721-724
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0098-7484 PMID: 3014178 DOI: 10.1001/jama.1986.03380060047023Document Number: 343664
Household members of 46 patients with confirmed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 43 human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus (HTLV-III/LAV)-seronegative controls from Kinshasa, Zaire, were identified and sought for serologic testing for evidence of HTLV-III/LAV infection. Twenty (9.8%) of 204 case-household members and three (1.9%) of 155 control-household members were HTLV-III/LAV seropositive (relative risk = 5.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.7 to 15.2). Eleven (61.1%) of 18 spouses of patients with AIDS were HTLV-III/LAV seropositive, compared with one (3.7%) of 27 control spouses (relative risk = 16.5; 95% confidence interval, 3.7 to 75.0). Except for spouses, the rate of HTLV-III/LAV seropositivity did not differ significantly between case and control households. Furthermore, for adults in case households who were not spouses, the number seropositive for HTLV-III/LAV was identical to that predicted from sex- and age-specific HTLV-III/LAV seroprevalence rates. These data from Zaire confirm the results of US and European studies of household contacts of infected hemophiliacs and pediatric patients with AIDS.