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Prevalence of HTLV‐I and HTLV‐II infection in gabon, africa: Comparison of the serological and pcr results
Author(s) -
Delaporte Eric,
Monplaisir Nicole,
Louwagie Joost,
Peeters Martine,
MartinPrével Yves,
Louis JeanPaul,
Trebucq Arnaud,
Bedjabaga Léonard,
Ossari Simon,
Honoré Cécile,
Larouzé Bernard,
d'Auriol Luc,
Van DerGroen Guido,
Piot Peter
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910490310
Subject(s) - serology , seroprevalence , polymerase chain reaction , primer (cosmetics) , virology , indeterminate , biology , medicine , immunology , antibody , chemistry , genetics , gene , mathematics , organic chemistry , pure mathematics
Abstract A cluster sampling survey was performed in 1989 in Libreville, Gabon, to determine HTLV‐1 and HTLV‐11 prevalence and to compare the efficacy of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serology in detecting HTLV‐1 and HTLV‐11 infections. A total 322 sera from adults were tested by ELISA and by Western blot (WB). The WB patterns were interpreted according to WHO criteria and those of the manufacturer. PCR analysis using primer pairs in the gag and pol region, with a specific probe for HTLV‐1 and HTLV‐11, was performed on the lymphocytes of the 322 adults. In addition, 134/322 samples were re‐tested with tax primers, in a second laboratory. Using WHO criteria, 8/322 (2.5%) samples were positive on WB and 25 were indeterminate; with the criteria of the kit, 26/322 (8.1%) were positive and 7 were indeterminate by WB. By PCR, 13 (4%) samples were positive, including 12 for HTLV‐1 (3.7%) and one for HTLV‐11 (0.3%). All 8 seropositive samples (by the WHO criteria) were positive by PCR, as were 4 out of 25 indeterminate samples. Only one out of 289 seronegative samples was positive by PCR. In contrast, only 12/26 positive samples by the kit criteria were confirmed by PCR. These results confirm the relatively high HTLV‐1/11 seroprevalence observed in Gabon. HTLV‐1 infection is preponderant, but HTLV‐11 is also present. The WHO criteria for WB give a better fit with PCR results than the kit criteria for WB. In the absence of a specific confirmatory test and based on the uncommon „seronegative” HTLV‐1/11 infection, the indication for PCR appears limited to the positive WB samples (to differentiate HTLV‐1 and 11 infection) and to the indeterminate WB samples.