A STUDY OF THE CD4 - CD8 RATIO IN PERIPHERAL T-LYMPHOCYTES OF RURAL PAPUA-NEW-GUINEANS - A REDUCED RATIO ASSESSED WITH REGARD TO INFECTIOUSAGENTS

The CD4 : CD8 ratio in peripheral T lymphocytes was determined in 123 Papua New Guineans aged over 5 years from Rumginae, a rural area of th e Western Province. 18 people had a ratio less than 1.0. No antibody r esponse to human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV 1) was found within the group. Hepatitis B surface antigen was more commonly associated with a CD4 : CD8 ratio less than 1.0 than were microfilaraemia or a positiv e Mantoux test. Hepatitis B infection may be one of the causes of the CD4 : CD8 ratio reduction within the community. Irrespective of the ca use, other studies in Papua New Guinea have shown that a CD4 : CD8 rat io less than 1.0 may result more from an increase in the CD8 cell coun t than a reduction in the CD4 cell count.