Antibodies to HTLV-III/LAV in Venezuelan Patients with Acute Malarial Infections

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Abstract
To the Editor: The human T-cell lymphotropic virus, variously called HTLV-III, lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV), or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)–related virus, is believed to be the causative agent of AIDS.1 Recently, antibodies reactive with HTLV-III/LAV have been detected among healthy subjects not belonging to any recognized AIDS risk group who live in certain rural regions of Africa2 , 3 and South America.4 Although they are geographically distant, these regions share a tropical climate and an abundance of parasitic infections, including malaria. Malarial infections have been associated with an immunosuppressive state of the host similar to that occurring in AIDS, with manifestations that include . . .