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Virus-like particles in lymphocytes of seven cases of AIDS in Black Africans

par Feremans, Walter ;Menu, Roberte;Dustin, Pierre
Référence Lancet, 2, 8340, page (52-53)
Publication Publié, 1983

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Résumé :

An ultrastructural study of peripheral lymphocytes, isolated by 'Ficoll' gradient and directly fixed by glutaraldehyde and postfixed by osmium was performed in seven cases of AIDS in Black Africans (five previously described). The disease was at a prodromal state (fever, weight loss, lymphadenopathies, lymphopenia with OKT4 deficiency) in two cases and advanced in the other five. 'Tubuloreticular structures' (TRS) were found in all seven cases and 'test tube and ring shaped forms' (TRF) in three. We also observed double-outlined rounded structures of mean diameter 70 nm in invaginations of cellular membrane in all cases. Several of these particles were crescent-shaped and budding was sometimes seen. The virus-like particles were morphologically similar to the C-retrovirus particles lately described in AIDS. These findings suggest a common infectious agent for the Black African cases and for other groups of AIDS described in the United States but the relation between human T-cell leukemia virus and AIDS - cause or opportunistic infection - remains unresolved.