Delayed hypersensitivity skin testing to mumps and Candida albicans antigens is normal in middle-aged HTLV-I- and-II-infected U.S. cohorts

• Published in: AIDS research and human retroviruses Vol. 17; no. 13; p. 1273
• Main Authors: Murphy, E L, Wu, Y, Ownby, H E, Smith, J W, Ruedy, R K, Thomson, R A, Ameti, D I, Wright, D J, Nemo, G J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2001
• Subjects: Adult; Antigens, Fungal - immunology; Candida albicans - immunology; Cohort Studies; Continental Population Groups; Female; HTLV-I Infections - immunology; HTLV-II Infections - immunology; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Delayed - epidemiology; Hypersensitivity, Delayed - immunology; Male; Middle Aged; Mumps - immunology; Sex Factors; Skin Tests; Tuberculin - immunology; Tuberculin Test; United States; United States
• ISSN: 0889-2229
• DOI: 10.1089/088922201750461339

It has been reported that human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I-infected persons in Japan have decreased delayed hypersensitivity skin test reactivity to tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD), but HTLV-I- or -II-infected persons do not generally develop opportunistic infections. We administered standardized intradermal testing with PPD, mumps, and Candida albicans antigens to 31 HTLV-I, 48 HTLV-II, and 143 seronegative subjects in the United States. Reactivity at 48 hr was compared among the three groups. Response rates to PPD were very low in all subjects. Fifty-five percent of seronegative subjects did not react to mumps antigen, compared with 55% of HTLV-I [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.27-2.33] and 38% of HTLV-II (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.33-1.64). Fifty-one percent of seronegatives did not react to Candida albicans antigen, compared with 34% of HTLV-I (OR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.15-0.93) and 46% of HTLV-II (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.34-1.52). Anergy was present in 33% of seronegatives, 28% of HTLV-I (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.20-1.78), and 19% of HTLV-II (OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.22-1.44). HTLV-I- and -II-infected persons appear to have intact delayed hypersensitivity skin test responses to mumps and Candida albicans antigens.