SERUM ANTIBODIES TO VIRAL PATHOGENS AND TOXOPLASMA-GONDII IN HIV-INFECTED INDIVIDUALS

Sera from 38 HIV-infected individuals were examined longitudinally for antibodies to viruses that may increase morbidity in HIV infection, a s well as commensal viruses and Toxoplasma gondii. HTLV infection was seen in Norway for the first time as four patients had antibodies to H TLV-IZ and one had antibodies to HTLV-I. Antibodies to hepatitis B vir us (HBV) were found in 47.2%, while 21.6% of the patients had antibodi es to hepatitis C virus (HCV). There was no evidence of acquisition of HBV or HVC during the mean observation period of 2 years. A titre inc rease in CMV antibody with time was observed for 7 out of 21 patients and a decrease for 2 patients. For Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex, varicella-zoster, rubella and measles viruses, human polyomavirus BK as well as for Toxoplasma gondii, antibody prevalences and titres were within the range seen in normal populations. Also, no longitudinal ch anges were observed in titres of these antibodies, indicating that hum oral immunity remained intact during the study period. The high preval ences of HTLV-I/II, HBV and HCV antibodies in HIV-infected patients re flect common modes of virus transmission, and the fluctuations in CMV antibody titre are indicative of reactivations. Such coinfections may influence disease progression.