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Human T‐lymphotropic virus type I and type II infections and correlation with risk factors in blood donors from São Paulo, Brazil
Author(s) -
Ferreira O. C.,
Vaz R. S.,
Carvalho M. B.,
Guerra C.,
Fabron A. L.,
Rosemblit J.,
Hamerschlak N.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1995.35395184284.x
Subject(s) - human t lymphotropic virus , virology , blood type (non human) , medicine , type (biology) , immunology , biology , blood typing , myelopathy , psychiatry , spinal cord , ecology
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the prevalence of and risk factors for human T‐lymphotropic virus type I and type II (HTLV‐I, HTLV‐II) infections in Brazil. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Sera from 17,063 healthy Brazilian donors were screened by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for antibody to HTLV‐I/II between August 1991 and July 1993. Repeatedly reactive samples were confirmed by Western blot, and discrimination between HTLV‐I and HTLV‐II was made by polymerase chain reaction or synthetic peptide enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. A univariate analysis was performed on demographic and serologic data. RESULTS: HTLV‐I infection was demonstrated in 83 percent of the 30 donors with reactive serologic tests (0.15% of the total tested [17,063]; 95% CI, 0.09‐0.20) and HTLV‐II infection in 17 percent (0.03% of the total tested [17,063]; 95% CI, 0.01‐0.05). HTLV‐I‐positive donors were more likely than reference groups to be of Asian ethnicity (odds ratio [OR] 15.1; reference group: whites), more than 50 years old (OR 4.2; reference group: 20–29 years old), and positive for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti‐HCV) (OR 21.8) or to hepatitis B core (antigen) (anti‐HBc) (OR 5.7). HTLV‐II showed a significant association with anti‐HCV (OR 75.2) and anti‐HBc (OR 21.8). Eleven of the 25 HTLV‐I‐ positive donors were counseled. Family origin in endemic areas of Japan (n = 4), prior blood transfusion (n = 3), or sexual contact with prostitutes (n = 1) were the risk factors reported by 8 donors. In 3 white men, no risk factors could be identified. CONCLUSION: Both HTLV‐I and HTLV‐II occur among Brazilian blood donors. HTLV‐I is associated with Asian ethnicity, greater age, and the presence of anti‐HCV and anti‐HBc. Three HTLV‐I‐positive donors had a history of blood transfusion, which emphasizes the need for HTLV‐I/II screening in Brazil.