A SEROEPIDEMIOLOGIC SURVEY OF IMMUNITY AGAINST POLIOMYELITIS IN A GROUP OF HIV-POSITIVE AND HIV-NEGATIVE DRUG-ADDICTS

In a seroepidemiological study performed to investigate immunity again st poliomyelitis in a population of drug addicts in a rehabilitative r esidential centre we demonstrated a widespread lack of poliovirus neut ralizing antibodies. This was more evident in the HIV positive subject s, 27% of whom were seronegative for poliovirus type 1, 27% for type 2 and 34% for type 3, with 11% seronegative for all three types. These results indicate a gap in immunity to poliomyelitis in the examined po pulation.