Sera of adult T-cell leukemia patients and carriers of human T-cell leukemia virus type I in Japan do not cross-react with antigens of lymphadenopathy virus.

The immunological cross-reactivity of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-related sera with lymphadenopathy virus (LAV) was investigated. The sera tested were obtained from 36 adult T-cell leukemia patients, 182 HTLV-I carriers, and 284 control individuals in Nagasaki. Two test methods were utilized: indirect immunofluorescence on LAV-producing cells and solid-phase radioimmunoassay with lysate of LAV. The results were exclusively negative for the presence of antibody activity against LAV, indicating the absence of cross-reaction and endemy in Nagasaki.