Antibodies reacting with human T-lymphotropic retrovirus (HTLV-1) or related antigens in lymphomatous and healthy hamadryas baboons

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Abstract
The sera of lymphomatous and healthy hamadryas baboons of the main, lymphoma-prone Sukhumi stock were tested for antibodies reacting with HTLV-1 antigens in the indirect immunofluorescence test. Antibodies of this specificity were found in all but one of 58 lymphomatous baboons and in 45% of 177 healthy ones. The prevalence of HTLV-1 reactive antibodies in lymphoma-free baboon populations (including 118 Sukhumi „forest”︁ stock animals and 195 baboons imported in 3 groups from Ethiopia) was consistently lower (5–8%). The specificity of baboon antibodies reacting with HTLV-1 or a related agent is supported by the following evidence: (1) Concordant reactivity pattern of baboon sera with several HTLV-1-positive and -negative human cell lines; (2) elimination of baboon sera anti-HTLV reactivity by absorption with purified HTLV-1, but not by other retroviruses; (3) significant correlation between immunofluorescence titers of baboon sera and their reactivity in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with purified HTLV-1; (4) competition of baboon anti-HTLV with monoclonal antibodies GIN-14 for binding of the epitope on p19HTLV-1. The prevalence of anti-HTLV positives in the main Sukhumi stock increased by age, reaching its maximum (approx. 80%) at 5–15 years, and showed no significant sex-related variation. The level of anti-HTLV antibodies in lymphomatous baboons and in age-, sex- and population-matched healthy ones did not differ. However, in pre-lymphoma sera these antibodies reached significantly higher levels than in sera of lymphomatous baboons (obtained in the terminal stage) or of matched, healthy controls.