Evaluation on HIV serology and immune-stimulation on patients in Tanzania

Antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus, other infectious agents and neopterin levels were determined in 253 patients in a rural area of North-West Tanzania. Seroprevalence for HIV was 3.2%. In one case serology was positive for HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies and questions whether there was a real double infection or a cross reaction not only concerning core region proteins but also transmembrane protein. The specificity in the diagnosis of HIV-infection is markedly increased with newer serological methods using recombinant peptides but did not improve sensitivity on African sera. Neopterin was determined as a sensitive indirect marker for the activation of T-cells and is therefore correlated with the susceptibility of HIV infection and with progression of disease. High seroprevalence rates for various infectious agents were determined and may explain the high rate of elevated neopterin levels in 80% of the Africans. Neopterin levels were even higher in HIV patients. Viral p24 antigen was found only in two persons, one of whom had no antibodies detectable.