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Abstract
IgA and IgG antibodies to cytoplasmic and secreted antigens of serotypes 4 and 8 of Mycobacterium avium and the percentage of agalactosyl immunoglobulin (%Gal[0]) were measured by ELISA in groups of blood donors, HIV seronegative persons, HIV seropositive persons with CD4+ cell counts >300/mm3 and AIDS patients co-infected with M. avium. No differences were found between the control groups, but HIV seropositive persons were distinguished by their increased %Gal[0] (p < 0.001) and increased IgA titre (p < 0.05) to secreted antigens of both serotypes of M. avium. Patients going on to develop aviumosis differed from other HIV-positive individuals, having more IgA to secreted antigens of serotype 8 (p < 0.03) and more IgG to secreted antigens of both serotypes (p < 0.001). After developing M. avium infection there was a further increase in %Gal[0] (p < 0.0001), IgA titres fell to both types of antigen from serotype 4 (p < 0.01) and sonicate antigen of serotype 8 (p < 0.001) and IgG fell to the secreted antigens of serotype 4 (p < 0.03). One interpretation of these observations is that antibody profiles to M. avium might be used to identify healthy persons at special risk of developing HIV seropositivity, and to identify persons with early AIDS who are likely to develop aviumosis.
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