[Comparative study of 2 commercial tests for the detection of HIV-1 antigens in blood and cerebrospinal fluid using immunoenzymology]. / Etude comparative de deux trousses commerciales pour la recherche de l'antigène HIV I en immunoenzymologie (EIA) dans le sérum et le liquide céphalorachidien.

The authors have carried out, on 150 sera of patients seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV I) and 11 cerebrospinal fluid of which 5 were patient infected by the HIV I, a comparative study of two commercial tests for the detection of HIV I antigen (Diagnostic Pasteur and Abbott laboratories). A much greater sensitivity was obtained with the specificity being practically identical for the sera with the two tests (100% with Abbott laboratories test, 96.11% with the diagnostic Pasteur test). 4 sera appeared "false negatives" with the Abbott Laboratories test; their optical density was situated between 80 and 100 p. cent of the cut-off level value, whereas that of the "real" negatives was situated between 30 and 60 p. cent of the cut-off level value. 10 of the 11 cerebrospinal fluids appeared false positive with the Diagnostic Pasteur. This seems to be connected with an insufficiency of saturation of protein receptors in the wells. The Diagnostic Pasteur test is not adapted for the detection of HIV I antigen in the body fluids with a weak protein concentration. Contrary to the results obtained with the Encavor test (Abbott laboratories) the analysis in western-blot does not show an inverse prevalence of anti p24 GAG antibodies with regard to antigen HIV I in seropositive patients. On the other hand, the statistical analysis of the positive HIV I sera which are at the same time antigen HIV I positive and antibodies HIV I positive suggests an earlier disappearance of anti p17 GAG antibodies than of anti p24 GAG antibodies.

[Serological study of the occurrence of Herpesviridae in French Guyana]. / Etude sérologique de la prévalence des Herpesviridae en Guyane française.

300 samples of serum (in seven age-groups) from the "creole" population of french Guiana were tested for antibodies to the four human herpesviruses (HSV, VZV, CMV and EBV). Results show the higher prevalence of CMV and EBV in early childhood, HSV primary infection appears to take place earlier in life than in temperate and developed countries, but later than in other tropical countries. The pattern of VZV epidemiology in french Guiana is consistent with what is known in tropical countries: varicella is also a disease of adolescents and young adults. CMV appears to be more prevalent in women than in men between 21 and 40.

[Comparative study of the prevalence of Herpesviridae in an African population and a European population]. / Etude comparative de la preévalence des herpesviridae dans une population africaine et dans une population européenne.

We have looked for long-term antibodies to Herpesviridae (HSV, VZV, CMV, EBV) in an African population (suburban area of Dakar, Senegal, West Africa) and in a European population (urban area of Bordeaux, France) in order to determine the prevalence of these viruses. The studied sera have been dispatched into 5 age-groups: 6 months to 4 years, 5 years to 9 years, 10 years to 14 years, 15 years to 44 years and greater than 45 years. We note that primary infection with Herpesviridae occurs sooner in life in Africa and that the prevalence rates of these viruses are higher in Africa with the exception of EBV, the prevalence of which is almost identical within the fifth age-group of the African and European populations. The prevalence rates of each individual virus are in agreement with previous studies except for VZV which we describe as the least prevalent virus of the family. The interest of this work is a simultaneous comparison of the prevalence of all viruses of the family Herpesviridae within two different populations.

[Prevention of poliomyelitis: live or killed vaccine? Remarks apropos of 2 cases of poliomyelitis]. / Prévention de la poliomyélite: vaccin vivant ou tué? Réflexions à propos de 2 cas de poliomyélite.

The attenuated poliovirus vaccine is remarkably effective in preventing the disease but its innocuity has always been questioned. It seems to be responsible for occasional cases of spinal paralysis occurring in developed countries where poliomyelitis has virtually been eradicated. The authors report two cases of acute anterior poliomyelitis in young adults, in which the poliovirus recovered from the faeces might have been of vaccinal origin. Virological techniques do not always characterize the strains isolated, nor distinguish between a vaccinal mutant and a wild poliovirus. These data, together with previously published cases, have prompted the authors to discuss whether the use of a live poliovaccine is justified.

Serological evidence of human infection with the paramyxovirus Yucaipa in Senegal, West Africa.

Sera from 353 people resident in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa, were tested for hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies against the avian paramyxovirus Yucaipa. Antibodies were demonstrated in five sera (1.4%), providing new evidence that this virus may infect humans.