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Prevalence of human T‐cell leukemia virus types I and II in Switzerland
Author(s) -
Böni Jürg,
Bisset Leslie R.,
Burckhardt Johann J.,
JollerJemelka Helen I.,
Bürgisser Philippe,
Perrin Luc,
Gorgievski Meri,
Erb Peter,
Fierz Walter,
Piffaretti JeanClaude,
Schüpbach Jörg
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.10541
Subject(s) - virology , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , polymerase chain reaction , leukemia , population , virus , immunology , medicine , transmission (telecommunications) , viral disease , biology , human t lymphotropic virus 1 , t cell leukemia , gene , environmental health , biochemistry , electrical engineering , in vitro , engineering
The retroviruses human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐1/2 and human T‐cell leukemia virus (HTLV)‐I/II share modes of transmission, suggesting that efforts to monitor the current HIV‐1 epidemic in Switzerland should be complemented by assessment of HTLV‐I/II prevalence. This study presents an updated evaluation of HTLV‐I/II infection among groups within the Swiss population polarized towards either low or increased risk of infection. Archived serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples were examined for evidence of HTLV‐I/II infection by enzyme‐linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), type‐specific Western blot, type‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequence analysis, and virus culture. Among blood donations obtained from low‐risk Swiss donors, we report a complete lack of HTLV‐II infection and the occurrence of HTLV‐I infection limited to a prevalence of 0.079 per 100,000 (1/1,266,466). Among high‐risk HIV‐positive persons and HIV‐negative persons at increased risk of HIV‐infection, we report a focus of HTLV‐I and HTLV‐II infection at prevalence rates of 62 per 100,000 (1/1,620) and 309 per 100,000 (5/1,620), respectively. The finding of low HTLV‐I/II prevalence among Swiss blood donors and containment of HTLV‐I/II infection within known risk‐groups does not support initiation of HTLV‐I/II screening for Swiss blood, tissue, and organ donations. J. Med. Virol. 72:328–337, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.