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Alterations in the course of experimental syphilis associated with concurrent simian immunodeficiency virus infection.
Title | Alterations in the course of experimental syphilis associated with concurrent simian immunodeficiency virus infection. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 1992 |
Authors | Marra, CM, Handsfield, HH, Kuller, L, Morton, WR, Lukehart, SA |
Journal | J Infect Dis |
Volume | 165 |
Issue | 6 |
Pagination | 1020-5 |
Date Published | 1992 Jun |
ISSN | 0022-1899 |
Keywords | Animals, Antibodies, Bacterial, Cerebrospinal Fluid, Chancre, Hemagglutination Tests, Immunoblotting, Leukocyte Count, Lymphocyte Activation, Macaca mulatta, Male, Rabbits, Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Syphilis, Syphilis Serodiagnosis, Treponema pallidum |
Abstract | Case reports suggest that the course of syphilis is altered in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To investigate this issue, a model of syphilis in rhesus macaques with and without simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) was developed. After intradermal inoculation with Treponema pallidum, 2 SIV-infected monkeys had persistent ulcerative primary lesions and 1 developed secondary syphilis. Two SIV-uninfected controls developed transient nonulcerative primary lesions. Only the controls showed consistent VDRL antibody responses. In contrast, reciprocal antibody titers to T. pallidum detected by microhemagglutination were higher in SIV-infected animals (greater than or equal to 20,480) than controls (greater than or equal to 1280). All 4 animals developed a full range of T. pallidum antigen-specific antibodies shown by immunoblot and had similar peak lymphocyte proliferative responses to T. pallidum antigens. These results support the contention that retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency delays clearance of T. pallidum from sites of infection and may impair the humoral immune response to syphilis. |
Alternate Journal | J. Infect. Dis. |
PubMed ID | 1583318 |
Grant List | AI-18988 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States RR-00166 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States |