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Objective: To determine the prevalence of signs and symptoms of HTLV‐1 and 2 infection in paediatric patients. Methods: We included cohort, case‐control and descriptive observational studies that reported the prevalence of signs and symptoms of HTLV‐1 and 2 infections in paediatric patients. Searches were performed in MEDLINE® (Ovid), EMBASE and LILACS from inception to the present, and we saturated information with other sources of published and unpublished literature. We decided not to perform meta‐analysis according to heterogeneity. Results: A total of eight studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative analysis. No studies of HTLV‐2 were found. Females predominated and there was vertical transmission in nearly 100% of cases. Infective dermatitis was a common manifestation of HTLV in paediatric patients. In addition, persistent hyperreflexia, clonus and the Babinski sign were early neurological alterations observed in patients carrying the virus. Conclusion: HTLV screening is recommended in patients presenting infective dermatitis, persistent hyperreflexia, walking disturbances and in those who come from endemic zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to determine the prevalence of infection markers in donors of a Peruvian blood bank and to assess whether donor sociodemographic variables are associated with the presence of these markers. An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in 5942 donors of a blood bank, whose data was collected during 2018. Positivity to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HTLV I-II was determined, in addition to syphilis and Chagas disease. The prevalence of HIV was 0.81%; for HBV it was 6.19%; for HCV, 0.12%; for HTLV I-II, 0.66%; for Chagas disease, 2.76% and for syphilis it was 1.73%. Several sociodemographic factors were associated with infection markers positivity. The predominant donation type was non-voluntary (96%) and 53% had history of previous donation. The prevalence of infection markers for HIV, HBV, Chagas disease and syphilis in blood donors was high compared to other countries in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human T-lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) is a human retrovirus which is endemic in Amerindian and pygmy tribes. Molecular subtypes show geographic segregation consistent with an ancient origin of this virus within humans in Africa or South America. More recently, injection drug users in the United States and Europe have become infected with HTLV-II, and secondary sexual transmission has introduced the virus at low levels into the general population and blood donors. HTLV-II has been linked with a spastic paraparesis called HTLV-associated myelopathy / tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), and perhaps with other neurological syndromes. It is also associated with an increased incidence of pneumonia and bronchitis, inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, and perhaps with increased mortality. Except for a few cases of cutaneous lymphoma in patients coinfected with HIV, there is no evidence that HTLV-II causes lymphoproliferative disease. HTLV-II and HIV coinfection has not been proven to alter the course of HIV disease, but such patients may have altered levels of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, and antiretroviral therapy may paradoxically increase HTLV-II proviral load.

In the United States, blood donors have been routinely screened for human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) since 1988. HTLV-I and -II seropositive blood donors have been identified through confirmatory testing at five participating blood centers and frequency-matched seronegative controls provided information on potential HTLV sociodemographic, parenteral, and sexual risk factors during structured interviews. After adjustment, low educational attainment; accidental needlesticks or cuts; prior blood transfusion; > or = 7 sex partners; and a sex partner from an HTLV-I endemic area were significantly associated with both HTLV-I and -II. Gender did not modify the odds ratios (OR) in the final logistic regression models, despite apparent male-female differences in gender-specific bivariable analysis. Injection drug use (IDU) or having sex with an IDUs were significant risks for HTLV-II, but not for HTLV-I. The OR for donors who had IDU sex partners was 20.6 times higher than those who did not. For IDUs, the OR was increased 10.5 times over nonusers. Abortion was a significant HTLV-II risk factor for women. Our findings indicate that IDU and sex with IDUs are important risk factors for HTLV-II transmission, even among low-risk populations such as blood donors.

In the United States, blood donors have been routinely screened for human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) since 1988. HTLV-I and -II seropositive blood donors have been identified through confirmatory testing at five participating blood centers and frequency-matched seronegative controls provided information on potential HTLV sociodemographic, parenteral, and sexual risk factors during structured interviews. After adjustment, low educational attainment; accidental needlesticks or cuts; prior blood transfusion; > or = 7 sex partners; and a sex partner from an HTLV-I endemic area were significantly associated with both HTLV-I and -II. Gender did not modify the odds ratios (OR) in the final logistic regression models, despite apparent male-female differences in gender-specific bivariable analysis. Injection drug use (IDU) or having sex with an IDUs were significant risks for HTLV-II, but not for HTLV-I. The OR for donors who had IDU sex partners was 20.6 times higher than those who did not. For IDUs, the OR was increased 10.5 times over nonusers. Abortion was a significant HTLV-II risk factor for women. Our findings indicate that IDU and sex with IDUs are important risk factors for HTLV-II transmission, even among low-risk populations such as blood donors.

A known HIV-1-positive intravenous drug user was found to be human T cell lymphoma/leukemia virus-II (HTLV-II) DNA positive by polymerase chain reaction but seronegative in a screening ELISA. He was consistently DNA positive but took 2 years to fully seroconvert. Sequencing of the HTLV-II strain in his cultured T lymphocytes indicated that it is a prototypical type A strain with no major differences in the long terminal repeat DNA sequence, nor major amino acid differences in the Gag, Env, Tax, and Rex proteins. However, a mutation in its gene created a stop codon at amino acid 543 of the Pol protein, a region that encodes for the RNase function. This mutation may account for the subject's slow seroconversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the epidemiological and clinical features observed in solely HTLV-II-infected individuals were compared to those in patients co-infected with HIV-1. A total of 380 subjects attended at the HTLV Out-Patient Clinic in the Institute of Infectious Diseases "Emilio Ribas" (IIER), São Paulo, Brazil, were evaluated every 3-6 months for the last seven years by infectious disease specialists and neurologists. Using a testing algorithm that employs the enzyme immuno assay, Western Blot and polymerase chain reaction, it was found that 201 (53%) were HTLV-I positive and 50 (13%) were infected with HTLV-II. Thirty-seven (74%) of the HTLV-II reactors were co-infected with HIV-1. Of the 13 (26%) solely HTLV-II-infected subjects, urinary tract infection was diagnosed in three (23%), one case of skin vasculitis (8%) and two cases of lumbar pain and erectile dysfunction (15%), but none myelopathy case was observed. Among 37 co-infected with HIV-1, four cases (10%) presented with tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) simile. Two patients showed paraparesis as the initial symptom, two cases first presented with vesical and erectile disturbances, peripheral neuropathies were observed in other five patients (13%), and seven (19%) patients showed some neurological signal or symptoms, most of them with lumbar pain (five cases). The results obtained suggest that neurological manifestations may be more frequent in HTLV-II/HIV-1-infected subjects than those infected with HTLV-II only.Neste estudo, as características epidemiológicas e clínicas observadas nos indivíduos infectados pelo HTLV-II foram comparadas com os pacientes co-infectados com HIV-1. Um total de 380 indivíduos atendidos na clínica do Ambulatório HTLV do Instituto de Infectologia "Emilio Ribas" (IIER), São Paulo, Brasil, foram avaliados a cada 3-6 meses nos últimos sete anos por especialistas em doenças infecciosas e neurologistas. Usando um algoritmo que emprega ensaio imunoenzimático, Western Blot e reação em cadeia de polimerase, foram incluídos 201 (53%) pacientes infectados pelo HTLV-I e 50 (13%) infectados pelo HTLV-II. Trinta e sete (74%) eram co-infectados pelo HTLV-II e HIV-1. Dos 13 (26%) indivíduos unicamente infectados pelo HTLV-II, infecção do trato urinário foi diagnosticada em três, um com vasculite e em dois casos dor lombar e disfunção erétil mas nenhum caso de mielopatia foi observado. Entre 37 pacientes co-infectados com HIV-1, quatro (10%) casos apresentaram com paraparesia espástica tropical/mielopatia associada ao HTLV similar. Dois casos mostraram paraparesia como sintoma inicial, dois outros casos se apresentaram primeiramente com distúrbios vesical e erétil e as neuropatias periféricas foram observadas em cinco pacientes (13%). Outros sete (19%) pacientes mostraram algum sinal ou sintoma neurológico, a maioria deles com dor lombar (cinco casos). Os resultados sugerem que as manifestações neurológicas podem ser mais freqüentes em indivíduos co-infectados pelo HTLV-II/HIV-1 do que nos indivíduos infectados somente pelo HTLV-II.

As the first US FDA-approved assay for supplemental HTLV testing, the MP Diagnostics HTLV Blot 2.4 is an effective and efficient method for confirming and differentiating HTLV type infection in repeatedly reactive samples. Novel and patented antigens added increased sensitivity in identifying specimens from infected individuals while differentiating those from uninfected individuals with false reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) is found in many New World Indian groups on the American continent. In Brazil, HTLV-II has been found among urban residents and Indians in the Amazon region, in the North. Guaraní Indians in the South of Brazil were studied for HTLV-I/II infection. Among 52 individuals, three (5.76%) showed positive anti-HTLV-II antibodies (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot). This preliminary report is the first seroepidemiological study showing HTLV-II infection among Indians in the South of Brazil.O vírus linfotrópico de células T-humanas do tipo II (HTLV-II) é identificado em muitos grupos de ameríndios. No Brasil, tem sido encontrado em indivíduos da população urbana, bem como em índios oriundos da região Amazônica. Os Índios Guaraní, do Sul do país, foram investigados para infecção por HTLV-I/II. Três indivíduos, oriundos de uma amostra de 52 índios, demonstraram sororeatividade para HTLV-II (ensaio imunoenzimático e Western blot). Este estudo preliminar foi o primeiro a identificar a presença de infecção por HTLV-II em ameríndios do Sul do Brasil.

Serum- and/or- cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples obtained from 190 patients suffering from chronic, progressive neurological disease were screened for the presence of human T-cell lymphotropic viruses type I (HTLV-I) and type II (HTLV-II) antibodies over a six-year period (1996 to 2001) in Belém, Pará, Brazil. Patients were of both sexes (male subjects, 52%) with ages ranging from 2 to 79 years (mean, 35.9). Overall, 15 (7.9%) subjects - of whom 12 (80%) were female adults - reacted HTLV-I/II-seropositive when screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum samples from 14 of these patients were also analyzed using a recombinant Western blot (WB) assay that yielded HTLV-I-, HTLV-II-, and HTLV-I/II- reactivities for 10 (71.4%), 3 (21.4%) and 1 (7.2%) of them, respectively. The yearly rates of HTLV-I/II antibodies ranged from 2.6% (2001) to 21.7% (2000), with progressively increasing seropositivities from 1998 to 2000. Altogether, walking difficulty (n = 5 subjects), spasticity (n = 4) and leg weakness (n = 3) accounted for 80% of symptoms recorded among the 15 patients whose sera had antibodies to HTLV-I/II as detected by ELISA. These findings provide evidence that both HTLV-I and HTLV-II play a role in the development of chronic myelopathy in Belém, Pará, Northern Brazil.Amostras de soro e/ou líquido céfalo-raquidiano (LCR) foram obtidas de 190 pacientes com quadro de doença neurológica crônica e progressiva, com vistas à detecção de anticorpos para os vírus linfotrópicos humanos de células T dos tipos I (HTLV-I) e II (HTLV-II), durante um período de seis anos (1996 a 2001) em Belém, Pará, Brasil. O grupo compreendia ambos os sexos (homens, 52%), com idades variando de 2 a 79 anos (média, 35,9 anos). Tomando-se os resultados como um todo, 15 (7,9%) indivíduos, incluindo 12 (80%) mulheres adultas, apresentaram anticorpos para HTLV-I/II a partir da triagem pelo procedimento imunoenzimático (ELISA). Soros de 14 desses pacientes também foram testados utilizando-se procedimento de Western blot (WB), alcançando-se freqüências de anticorpos para HTLV-I, HTLV-II e dupla reação (HTLV-I e HTLV-II) em 10 (71,4%), 3 (21,4%) e 1 (7,2%) indivíduos, respectivamente. As freqüências anuais de positividade para HTLV-I/II variaram de 2,6% (2001) a 21,7% (2000), em escala crescente no período de 1998 a 2000. Em conjunto, dificuldade na deambulação (n = 5 pacientes), espasticidade (n = 4) e hipotonia crural compreenderam 80% das manifestações clínicas registradas entre os 15 pacientes cujas amostras de soro continham anticorpos para HTLV-I/II, com base em ELISA. Tais resultados oferecem indicadores quanto a uma possível associação do HTLV-I e do HTLV-II à gênese das mielopatias crônicas em Belém, norte do Brasil.

Human T-cll leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-I) and HTLV-II are type C oncoviruses, members of the family Retroviridae. Blood transfusion is a transmission route. Screening for HTLV is routine in Khorasan Province/Iran. In a seroepidemiologic survey in Bushehr Province, 22074 blood units were screened for anti-HTLV-I & ani-HTLV-II antibodies using ELISA method. Only 3 of donors (0.013%) were positive for anti-HTLV-I these results were confirmed by western blot. Therefore, routine screening for anti-HTLV antibodies are not justifiable in blood transfusion centers in Bushehr Province.

We review here the epidemiological studies performed by our group on human retrovirus HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections and the associated diseases in French Guiana since 1984. French Guiana is an overseas French administrative district located between Brazil and Surinam. Its population is characterized by a large variety of ethnic groups, including several populations of African origin and various populations of Amerindian origin. Several epidemiological studies of large samples of pregnant women and in remote villages showed that HTLV-I is highly endemic in this area but is restricted to groups of African origin, especially the Noir-Marrons. In this endemic population, the results of segregation analysis in a genetic epidemiological study were consistent with the presence of a dominant major gene predisposing to HTLV-I infection, especially in children. In contrast, HTLV-II infection appears to be rare in French Guiana, having been found in only a few individuals of Brazilian origin. From a molecular point of view, the HTLV-I strains present in the Noir-Marrons, Creoles and Amerindians appear to originate from Africa, as they belong to the large cosmopolitan molecular subtype A.Os autores apresentam uma revisão dos estudos epidemiológicos realizados pelo seu grupo de pesquisa sobre a infecção pelos vírus T-linfotrópicos humanos tipo I (HTLV-I) e tipo II (HTLV-II) e doenças associadas na Guiana Francesa, desde 1984. A Guiana Francesa é um Departamento de Ultramar da França, situado entre o Brasil e o Suriname. A população é caracterizada por uma grande variedade de grupos étnicos, incluindo diversas comunidades de origem africana e outras de origem indígena. Diversos inquéritos epidemiológicos sobre gestantes e em aldeias remotas mostraram que o HTLV-I é altamente endêmico nessas áreas, mas que o vírus é restrito a grupos de origem africana, particularmente os Noir-Marrons. Nessa população endêmica, os resultados de uma análise de segregação num estudo epidemiológico genético eram coerentes com a presença de um gene maior dominante determinando a predisposição para a infecção pelo HTLV-I, especialmente em crianças. Por outro lado, a infecção pelo HTLV-II parece ser rara na Guiana Francesa, tendo sido encontrada apenas em alguns indivíduos de origem brasileira. Do ponto de vista molecular, as cepas de HTLV-I presentes entre os Noir-Marrons, Creoles e indígenas parecem ser originárias da África, uma vez que pertencem ao grande genótipo cosmopolita, ou sub-grupo molecular A.

We review here the epidemiological studies performed by our group on human retrovirus HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections and the associated diseases in French Guiana since 1984. French Guiana is an overseas French administrative district located between Brazil and Surinam. Its population is characterized by a large variety of ethnic groups, including several populations of African origin and various populations of Amerindian origin. Several epidemiological studies of large samples of pregnant women and in remote villages showed that HTLV-I is highly endemic in this area but is restricted to groups of African origin, especially the Noir-Marrons. In this endemic population, the results of segregation analysis in a genetic epidemiological study were consistent with the presence of a dominant major gene predisposing to HTLV-I infection, especially in children. In contrast, HTLV-II infection appears to be rare in French Guiana, having been found in only a few individuals of Brazilian origin. From a molecular point of view, the HTLV-I strains present in the Noir-Marrons, Creoles and Amerindians appear to originate from Africa, as they belong to the large cosmopolitan molecular subtype A.

We conducted a cross-sectional study of the spatial distribution of HTLV-I/II infection among blood donors of Hemominas Foundation, living in Belo Horizonte, from 1994 to 1996. Study population (1,022) was composed by 533 cases (positive Western Blot (WB), indeterminate WB and ELISA positive without WB result) and a random sample of 489 non-cases (HTLV-I/II serum negative). Cases and non-cases were georeferenced using the exact or an approximation of the household address reported at the blood donation interview. Using multivariate analysis, cases with WB result are less likely to be reposition blood donors compared to voluntary ones (OR = 0.70; CI 95%: 0.50-0.99). Using the difference between univariate K functions, we found no evidence that cases and non-cases differ in their spatial distribution. We found no evidence that cases with and without WB result differ in the distance between their residence and Hemominas Foundation. No donors without WB result were georeferenced by the exact address. These donors could not have received the Hemominas letter inviting them to return to collect the second blood sample.O objetivo deste estudo seccional foi analisar a distribuição espacial da infecção pelo HTLV-I/II, em doadores de sangue da Fundação Hemominas, residentes em Belo Horizonte, de 1994 a 1996. Foram estudados 1.022 doadores, 533 casos e 489 não casos. Os casos foram estratificados em Western Blot (WB) positivos, WB indeterminados e ELISA positivos sem resultados do WB. Os casos e os não casos foram georreferenciados pelo endereço residencial exato ou por uma aproximação do mesmo. Os casos com resultado do WB menos freqüente eram dos doadores de reposição em relação a doadores voluntários (OR = 0,70; IC 95%: 0,50-0,99). Através da diferença entre as funções K univariadas, não há evidências de que casos e não casos difiram em relação à distribuição espacial. Os casos com e sem WB não diferiram entre si com relação à distância da Hemominas. Verificou-se que nenhum dos doadores sem resultado da segunda amostra foi georreferenciado pelo endereço exato. Esses doadores poderiam não ter retornado para coleta da segunda amostra de sangue por não terem recebido a convocação da Hemominas, que é feita por carta.

We conducted a cross-sectional study of the spatial distribution of HTLV-I/II infection among blood donors of Hemominas Foundation, living in Belo Horizonte, from 1994 to 1996. Study population (1,022) was composed by 533 cases (positive Western Blot (WB), indeterminate WB and ELISA positive without WB result) and a random sample of 489 non-cases (HTLV-I/II serum negative). Cases and non-cases were georeferenced using the exact or an approximation of the household address reported at the blood donation interview. Using multivariate analysis, cases with WB result are less likely to be reposition blood donors compared to voluntary ones (OR = 0.70; CI 95%: 0.50-0.99). Using the difference between univariate K functions, we found no evidence that cases and non-cases differ in their spatial distribution. We found no evidence that cases with and without WB result differ in the distance between their residence and Hemominas Foundation. No donors without WB result were georeferenced by the exact address. These donors could not have received the Hemominas letter inviting them to return to collect the second blood sample.

Blood samples from native Indians in the Kararao village (Kayapo), were analysed using serological and molecular methods to characterize infection and analyse transmission of HTLV-II. Specific reactivity was observed in 3/26 individuals, of which two samples were from a mother and child. RFLP analysis of the pX and env regions confirmed HTLV-II infection. Nucleotide sequence of the 5' LTR segment and phylogenetic analysis showed a high similarity (98%) between the three samples and prototype HTLV-IIa (Mot), and confirmed the occurrence of the HTLV-IIc subtype. There was a high genetic similarity (99.9%) between the mother and child samples and the only difference was a deletion of two nucleotides (TC) in the mother sequence. Previous epidemiological studies among native Indians from Brazil have provided evidence of intrafamilial and vertical transmission of HTLV-IIc. The present study now provides molecular evidence of mother-to-child transmission of HTLV-IIc, a mechanism that is in large part responsible for the endemicity of HTLV in these relatively closed populations. Although the actual route of transmission is unknown, breast feeding would appear to be most likely.

A cidade do Salvador, capital do Estado da Bahia, apresenta a população com maior prevalência da infecção pelo HTLV-I no Brasil. Todavia, somente um estudo incluiu uma cidade do interior deste Estado, mesmo assim com número amostral pequeno. O objetivo foi o de avaliar a prevalência de anticorpos anti-HTLV-I/II na população de quatro cidades do interior do Estado da Bahia. As amostras de soro proveninentes de 1.539 indivíduos residentes em Catolândia, Ipupiara, Jacobina e Prado foram triadas através do ELISA, e a confirmação dos resultados nas amostras repetidamente positivas foi realizada através do "Western blot". Quarenta e sete (3,1%) amostras foram positivas pelo ELISA, e 44 destas foram submetidas ao Western blot, com 5 resultados positivos (0,3%), 8 (0,5%) indeterminados (todos da cidade de Jacobina) e 31 negativos. A prevalência geral de anticorpos anti-HTLV-I, nas cidades estudadas, foi de 0,3%. Esta prevalência variou de 0,0% (Prado) a 0,7% (Jacobina), porém não houve diferença estatisticamente significante (p > 0,21). Nenhum indivíduo apresentou anticorpos anti-HTLV-II. Em conclusão, a prevalência da infecção pelo HTLV-I no interior do Estado da Bahia foi baixa, contudo, a população da cidade de Jacobina apresentou a maior prevalência. No entanto, outros estudos epidemiológicos, clínicos e virológicos serão necessários para a melhor compreensão da história natural desta infecção em Jacobina.The city of Salvador, capital of Bahia, presents a population with the highest prevalence of HTLV-I infection in Brazil. Untill now, only one study has investigated this infection in other cities of this state, even though by using a small sample. With objective to evaluate the prevalence of HTLV-I/II antibodies in four cities of the state of Bahia. Serum samples from 1,539 individuals who lived in Catolândia, Ipupiara, Jacobina and Prado were screened by ELISA, and repeatedly reactive samples confirmed by Western Blot. Forty-seven (3.1%) samples were positive by ELISA, and 44 of them were tested by Western blot: 5 (0.3%) were positive, 8 (0.5%) were indeterminate (all of them from Jacobina) and 31 were negative. The overall prevalence of HTLV-I antibodies was 0.3%. This prevalence varied from 0.0% (Prado) to 0.7% (Jacobina), but differences were not statistically sgnificant (p > 0.21). None of these individuals presented HTLV-II antibodies. Jacobina showed the highest prevalence of HTLV-I infection among the cities studied, although the overall prevalence was low. In conclusion, further epidemiological, clinical and virological studies will be of paramount importance to obtain a better understanding of the natural history of this infection in Jacobina.

The human lymphotropic viruses type I (HTLV-I) and type II (HTLV-II) are members of a group of mammalian retroviruses with similar biological properties, and blood transfusion is an important route of transmission. HTLV-I is endemic in a number of different geographical areas and is associated with several clinical disorders. HTLV-II is endemic in several Indian groups of the Americas and intravenous drug abusers in North and South America, Europe and Southeast Asia. During the year of 1995, all blood donors tested positive to HTLV-I/II in the State Blood Bank (HEMOPA), were directed to a physician and to the Virus Laboratory at the Universidade Federal do Pará for counselling and laboratory diagnosis confirmation. Thirty-five sera were tested by an enzyme immune assay, and a Western blot that discriminates HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection. Two HTLV-II positive samples were submitted to PCR analysis of pX and env genomic region, and confirmed to be of subtype IIa. This is the first detection in Belém of the presence of HTLV-IIa infection among blood donors. This result emphasizes that HTLV-II is also present in urban areas of the Amazon region of Brazil and highlights the need to include screening tests that are capable to detect antibodies for both types of HTLV.

HTLV-I and HTLV-II are endemic in some areas of Brazil, where an associated disease, HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) have been diagnosed in significant number of infected individuals. Tuberculosis has been demonstrated among those individuals, with higher prevalence than in the general population, suggesting that there is an increased risk for this comorbidity. We report the case of an individual coinfected with HTLV-I and HTLV-II, suffering from an insidious meningoencephalomyelitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient was a 44 years old man successfully treated with steroids and antituberculous drugs, improving clinically and turning to a negative PCR and to a normal blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier.Os vírus HTLV-I e HTLV-II são endêmicos em algumas regiões do Brasil, onde uma das doenças associadas, a paraparesia espástica tropical/mielopatia associada ao HTLV (PET/MAH), tem sido diagnosticada em significativo número de pacientes infectados. Nesses indivíduos, a prevalência de tuberculose é maior que na população geral, sugerindo que possa haver um maior risco para esta comorbidade. Relatamos o caso de um homem de 44 anos coinfectado HTLV-I + HTLV-II que desenvolveu meningoencefalomielite por Mycobacterium tuberculosis. O paciente apresentou recuperação clínica parcial, correção da disfunção de barreira hemato-liquórica e negativação no PCR, mediante o tratamento com corticoesteróides e tuberculostáticos.

Objective(s): Although HTLV-I infection is endemic in different geographical parts of the world including Northeast of Iran, there have been no documents of HTLV-II infection in this region. It is reported that one possible reason for seroindeterminate state in HTLV western blot is HTLV-II virus. This study aimed to investigate the presence of HTLV-II among blood donors with seroindeterminate western blot results. Materials and Methods: Three ml whole blood obtained from 50 blood donors referring to Mashhad Blood Transfusion Organization who had reactive Elisa for HTLV-I and seroindeterminate HTLV western blot state. A conventional PCR was applied to detect HTLV-I provirus using specific primers while a nested PCR was designed with specific external and internal primers for the detection of HTLV-II. Results: The average age of participants, 39 males and 11 females, was 37.12± 14.36 years. The average OD of the Elisa assay was 1.767± 1.195. The most common indeterminate patterns were Rgp46-II alone (n=12, 27.3%), Rgp46-I alone (n=7, 15.9%), and Rgp46-I with GD21 (n=7, 15.9%).After introducing the DNA to the PCR tests, results revealed 10 (20%) HTLV-I PCR positive samples while no HTLV-II positive sample was detected by nested PCR. There were no significant age, blood group, Optical Density of the Elisa assay, and western blot indeterminate pattern differences between HTLV-I PCR positive and negative samples. Conclusion: No HTLV-II positive sample was detected in this study which confirms the absence of HTLV-II infection in this region. However, high frequency of HTLV-I PCR positive samples among the seroindeterminate cases implies on the important role of molecular techniques for further confirmation of the infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II is a retrovirus endemic in Amerindian communities throughout the American continent, although some Amerindian groups that apparently emerged from the same ethnic root as HTLV-II carriers do not secrete antibodies against the virus and show very low prevalence for human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I. In this study, sera from 487 Amazonian amerinds were screened for HTLV type I and II antibody by the gelatin particle agglutination assay and ELISA and confirmed by Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence assay. None was positive for HTLV type II. One young healthy male of Waiãpi ethnicity was reactive with HTLV-I and was confirmed by Western blot assay and indirect immunofluorescence test. The absence of HTLV type II infection among these Amerindian communities would suggest a behavior pattern distinct from other groups in the American continent. Also, the very low prevalence of HTLV type I infection among these ethnic groups probably indicates contamination by blood transfusion (external transmission route). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The HTLV-II infection has been reported in patients with HIV infection as often in asymptomatic as those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HTLV-II infection in a group of patients infected by HIV in our region, as well as determining the risk factors associated with HTLV-II transmission in this group of patients and its impact on the clinical course of HIV infection. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of co-infection of HIV-1 and HTLV-II among 192 patients from Yucatán, México. Serum specimens were tested for HTLV antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Positive results were confirmed and typed by Western blot. Twenty four (12.5%) patients were confirmed with antibodies for HTLV-II, but none had antibodies for HTLV-I. Specific risk factors for HTLV-II transmission were not identified. Results: Candidiasis (42 vs. 12%, p = 0.0004) and more than two defining entities of AIDS (37 vs. 18%, p = 0.02) was observed with greater prevalence in the group co-infected. Conclusions: In our study, a higher frequency of candidiasis and a larger number of AIDS-defining pathologies were observed in the co-infected patients, suggesting that co-infection is associated with greater inmunodeficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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Copyright of Cadernos de Saude Publica is the property of Escola Nacional de Saude Publica Sergio Arouca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Presents a study of human retroviruses human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) seroprevalence among pregnant women in Europe. Determination of the maternal antibody status of pregnant women; Details on the epidemiology of HTLV infections; Evidence of spreading HIV infections.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is a retrovirus transmitted through breastfeeding, sexual contact, blood transfusion and injecting drug use. HTLV is endemic in the Caribbean and parts of Africa, Japan and South America, with isolated foci in other areas. Infection is life-long. Less than 5% of those infected progress to one of the HTLV-related diseases, but these are debilitating and often fatal. Laboratory reports of new HTLV diagnoses are followed up through clinicians to establish information such as probable country of infection, country of birth, clinical details and reason for test. Clinician reports are also received for HTLV-infected blood donors identified by the National Blood Service. Seventy-seven individuals newly diagnosed with HTLV infection in 2002 were reported to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) by June 2003. Thirty-three (43%) were male, and 44 (57%) female, with median ages at diagnosis of 58.5 and 50.1 years respectively. Seventy-three (95%) individuals were HTLV-I positive and three HTLV-II positive, with one remaining untyped. For 52 of the 77 infections, clinician reports were received. Where ethnicity was reported (48), 30 (63%) were Black Caribbean, 12 (25%) White, and the remainder (6) of other ethnicities. Probable route of infection was reported for 31 individuals: nine (29%) were probably infected heterosexually, seven (23%) through mother-to-child transmission, 12 (40%) through either route, two through blood transfusion, and one through injecting drug use (HTLV-II positive). Where probable country of infection was reported (31), 14 (45%) were probably infected in the UK, 13 (42%) in the Caribbean, and four elsewhere. Where reported (50), reason for test was: symptoms for 19 (38%) individuals, blood donation for 21 (42%), and the remainder for other reasons. Numbers of new HTLV diagnoses were relatively high in 2002, and the characteristics of patients and clinical presentations differed ... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-cell leukaemia/ lymphoma viruses (HTLV) I and II are persistent retroviral infections. Once infected, the lifetime risk of developing the HTLV-associated diseases, malignant or inflammatory, is low (∼5%). For those affected, however, these diseases are debilitating, with few treatment options and a poor prognosis. Surveillance of HTLV infections by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) has been ongoing since serological testing became available in 1986. Testing of blood donations in England and Wales commenced during August 2002 and awareness of HTLV infection is likely to increase. Therefore, a baseline retrospective review of cases prior to 2002 was conducted. The age and sex distribution of identified HTLV cases has differed little over time. Eighty-five per cent of individuals were linked to the Caribbean by birthplace or prognosis. Though HTLV infection is chronic and incurable, preventive measures are possible. Improved surveillance is needed to support effective prevention activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chimeric synthetic peptide incorporating immunodominant epitope of the p19 gag protein (116–134) and the gp46 env protein (178–200) of HTLV-II virus, separated by two glycine residues, was synthesized by conventional solid-phase peptide synthesis. The antigenic activity of this peptide was evaluated by Ultramicro Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (UMELISA) by using panels of anti-HTLV-II positive sera (n = 9), anti-HTLV-I/II positive sera (n = 2), HTLV-positive (untypeable) serum samples (n = 1), and anti-HTLV-I positive sera (n = 14), while specificity was evaluated with samples from healthy blood donors (n = 20). The efficacy of the chimeric peptide in solid-phase immunoassays was compared with the monomeric peptides. Data demonstrated that the chimeric peptide was the most reactive because it detected antibodies to virus efficiently. This may be related to peptide adsorption to the solid surface and epitope accessibility to the antibodies. The results indicate that chimeric peptide as coating antigen is very useful for the immunodiagnosis of HTLV-II infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The function of the transactivator protein Tax from HTLV-II subtype A, subtype B, Brazilian subtype C, and African subtype D isolates was compared to that of Tax from an HTLV-I isolate. HTLV-II subtypes A, B, and C were less active in the transactivation of a NF-κB reporter compared to HTLV-I Tax in 293T but not Jurkat T cells. In both cell types there were no significant differences between the functions of HTLV-II B, C, and D and HTLV-I Tax proteins on either a full-length HTLV-I LTR or a 21-bp repeat reporter, suggesting that there is equivalent CREB-mediated transactivation between the viruses and these subtypes. In contrast, Tax of some but not all HTLV-II subtype A isolates, including the prototype Mo, had a greatly decreased ability to transactivate, and this could be directly correlated with a decrease in protein expression. Employment of cDNA clones encoding both Rex and Tax demonstrated that Rex was unable to rescue the expression or activity of the IIA Mo isolate. These studies demonstrate that with the exception of some HTLV-IIA subtypes there are no significant differences in Tax transactivation via the CREB and NF-κB pathways between the two viruses and suggest that the HTLV-II Tax may have a pathogenic potential equivalent to that of HTLV-I. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cerebellar symptoms at onset are unusual in HTLV‐I/II‐associated tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP). A prospective study of neurological disorders in Panama (1985–1990) revealed 13 patients with TSP and 3 with HTLV‐I/II‐associated spinocerebellar syndrome (HSCS) presenting at onset loss of balance, wide‐based stance and gait, truncal instability, and mild leg ataxia (vermian cerebellar syndrome), with absent upper limb dysmetria but with postural tremor, downbeat nystagmus, and dysarthria. In 4–5 years, spinal cord manifestations of TSP developed, including spastic paraparesis, pyramidal signs, bladder and sphincter disturbances. Two patients were infected with HTLV‐I and another one, a Guaymi Amerindian woman, with HTLV‐II. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated cerebellar atrophy involving predominantly the superior vermis. Mild axonal peripheral neuropathy in the lower limbs, dorsal column involvement and inflammatory myopathy were found by neurophysiology studies. There are 14 similar cases reported in Japan and Canada, but to our knowledge these are the first documented cases of HSCS in the tropics. A cerebellar syndrome constitutes another form of presentation of HTLV‐I/II infection of the nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large lymphocytes with basophilic cytoplasm and cleaved/cerebriform nuclei called flower cells have been described in human T-lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV-I) seropositive individuals and may be precursors of adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL). A cohort of 546 HTLV-seropositive former blood donors, 32 HTLV-positive sexual partners of these donors and 799 HTLV-seronegative controls has been followed as part of the Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study. A novel methodology was developed to systematically review peripheral blood slides from these subjects for HTLV-related lymphocyte abnormalities, using an algorithm based on morphologic features to objectively identify flower cells. The algorithm included: absence of azurophil granules; nuclear chromatin condensation; cell size >1.5 small lymphocytes; nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio >80%; and presence of nuclear folding/lobulation. Peripheral slides from subjects were screened by a medical technologist blinded to HTLV status. 6.8% of HTLV-I subjects (P = 0.0001 versus seronegatives), 0.9% of HTLV-II subjects and 1.1% of seronegatives were confirmed to have cells classified as flower cells by two haematologists using objective criteria, and blinded to serostatus. Despite the higher prevalence of flower cells in HTLV-I positives, no clinical correlations were found. Longitudinal follow-up may yield higher rates of cellular abnormalities as the sequelae of HTLV infection develop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation (SLP) in vitro is a characteristic feature of about 50% of individuals infected with HTLV-I or HTLV-II. Both CD4 cells and CD8 cells contribute to SLP in HTLV-I infection, whereas SLP in HTLV-II infection is usually restricted to CD8 cells. In this study, we asked if SLP was restricted to the memory (CD45RO+) cell subset of CD4 and CD8 cells in HTLV infection. Purified CD4 and CD8 cells were separated into CD45RO+ and CD45RO- populations by a modified panning technique, and spontaneous proliferation (SP) of the cell subsets was assessed. For all five HTLV-I-infected persons whose mononuclear cell cultures were SLP+, only CD45RO+ cells, but not CD45RO+ cells, within CD4 and CD8 subsets showed SP. In contrast, five of six SLP+ HTLV-II+ individuals showed SP in both the CD45RO+ and the CD45RO+ subsets of CD4 cells, and 10 of 12 SLP+ HTLV-II+ individuals showed SP of both the CD45RO+ and CD45RO- subsets of CD8 cells. Polymerase chain reaction studies showed that proviral genome was generally present in both CD45RO+ and CD45RO+ subsets of CD4 and CD8 cells, regardless of HTLV type and SP activity. These findings show that SP of both CD4 and CD8 cells in HTLV-I infection is usually restricted to CD45RO+ memory cells, whereas in HTLV-II infection, both CD45RO+ memory and CD45RO- naive subsets of CD4 and CD8 cells may exhibit SP. It thus appears that HTLV-I infection and HTLV-II infection exhibit distinctive dysregulatory effects on memory and naive T cell subpopulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to discriminate HTLV-II from HTLV-I, HTLV-II-specific polyclonal antibodies against a synthetic peptide of HTLV-II envelope sequence were raised in rabbits. We immunized two adult rabbits with a KLH-conjugated synthetic peptide corresponding to the amino acid sequence 171-196 of the HTLV-II envelope sequence, which is a specific region for HTLV-II as evaluated with an ELISA method. The resulting rabbit antisera to the synthetic peptide reacted with gp46 of HTLV-II lysates in Western blot analysis, but not with that of HTLV-I. Flow cytometric analysis and immunohistochemical study revealed that these affinity purified antisera recognized some HTLV-II-producing cell lines examined, but not HTLV-I-producing cell lines or other cell lines uninfected by HTLV. These findings indicate that these antisera specifically recognized the envelope glycoprotein (gp46) of HTLV-II and suggest the specificity of this region in the immune response to HTLV-II. Such antisera are useful in distinguishing between HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection and in determining the presence of individual HTLV-II-infected cells both in vivo and in vitro, including non-lymphoid cells. They may also assist in the elucidation of the pathogenesis of HTLV-II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of the genetic heterogeneity of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) have revealed the presence of two genetic subtypes, termed HTLV-IIa and HTLV-IIb. The HTLV-IIb subtype encodes an immunodominant epitope present at the C terminus of the extended Tax protein and, by using an LTR-based, restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) assay, can be further classified into IIb0-IIb5, with HTLV-IIb1 (Central Amerindian-like) and HTLV-IIb5 (North Amerindian-like) being characteristic subtypes for Native American Indians. To determine the antigenic and genetic heterogeneity among HTLV-II-infected South Amerindians, we used a Tax synthetic peptide immunoassay on serum, and RFLP and phylogenetic analysis on LTR sequences amplified from genomic DNA from four Wayuu Indians of Colombia. The Wayuu specimens displayed seroreactivity to the immunodominant epitope located in the extended Tax region, as predicted, and demonstrated genetic heterogeneity by the presence of both the IIb1 (Wyu1, Zuc31) and IIb5 (Wyu2, Zuc42) subtypes of HTLV-II. This genetic diversity was further supported by clustering of the Wyu1 and Wyu2 LTR sequences within separate phylogroups represented by the Guaymi Indian (IIb1) and North Amerindian (IIb5) sequences, respectively. Sequence analysis showed that major LTR regulatory motifs and the cis-acting repressive elements in the LTR RNA secondary structure were relatively conserved in both Wayuu subtypes, but the predicted secondary structure of the rex response stem loop in the Wyu2 (IIb5) LTR sequence was 45 nucleotides (nt) and 95 nt longer than that observed in the Wyu1 (IIb1) and G12.1 (IIb1) LTR sequences, respectively. These results extend our knowledge of the genetic heterogeneity of HTLV-II in South Amerindians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Amerindian human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II isolate HTLV-II has been demonstrated to be an HTLV-IIb with several unique features, including several restriction enzyme site changes, a distinctive pre- gag region, a stop codon within the pol gene, and an extended Tax protein. In this study, HTLV-II isolates from Amerindian and non-Indian populations were characterized by restriction enzyme site analysis to determine the prevalent HTLV-II subtype. In addition, DNA amplification by the polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analyses were used to probe for the HTLV-II pre- gag region. Our results showed that of 13 Guaymi Indian isolates subtyped, all were HTLV-IIb, and that approximately one third of 17 isolates had the unique pre- gag region. While other HTLV-II-infected groups contained both HTLV-IIa and HTLV-IIb isolates, none of these isolates showed evidence of the distinctive HTLV-II pre- gag region. Lastly, DNA sequence analysis was used to determine the prevalence of the stop codon within the pol gene open reading frame. These analyses revealed that the occurrence of a stop codon within this sequence appeared to be characteristic of most HTLV-IIb subtypes. These results further our understanding of the genetic variations and evolution of the HTLV-II viruses within the endemically infected Amerindian populations, as well as U.S. intravenous drug users and other non-Indian populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A supersensitive polymerase chain reaction procedure was developed to detect human T-lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) proviral genome. Six primer pairs covering the various regions of HTLV-II were compared and selected on the basis of specificity and sensitivity. Among them, one primer pair of the pol region of HTLV-II (II pol) was able to amplify and detect even 0.1 fg of the cloned plasmid HTLV-II DNA (seven copies) by regular ethidium bromide staining on polyacrylamide gel. By using this procedure, we screened 189 HTLV-I seropositive blood donors from Yamaguchi and Fukuoka Red Cross Blood Centers, Japan. There were four positive samples detectable with the HTLV-II-specific pol primer pair, as well as with the HTLV-I tax primer pair. The amplified DNAs of two specimens were cloned and sequenced. The sequences of the HTLV-I tax region from both specimens were identical to that of HTLV-I. On the other hand, those of the HTLV-II pol region were identical to that of HTLV-II, except for one base substitution in a clone from one subject. These results indicate that dual infection of HTLV-I and HTLV-II in the same persons occurs among Japanese blood donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven new Italian and two new British HTLV-II isolates were obtained from injecting drug users and the entire long terminal repeat (LTR) region was sequenced. Restriction analysis showed that all the Italian isolates are of the IIb subtype, whereas the British isolates are of the IIa subtype. To understand whether the further differentiation of each two principal HTLV-II subtypes in several subgroups could be statistically supported by phylogenetic analysis, the neighbor-joining, parsimony, and maximum likelihood methods were used. The separation between IIa and IIb is very well supported by all three methods. At least two phylogenetic subgroups exist within the HTLV-IIa and at least three within the HTLV-IIb subtype. In the present analysis, no statistical support was obtained for additional phylogroups. Two particular subgroups seem interesting because they include all European and North American injecting drug user strains within the IIa and IIb subtypes, respectively. These data confirm that European HTLV-II infection among drug users is probably derived from North America. They also suggest that though a certain differentiation by restriction analysis in different subgroups is possible, carefully interpreted phylogenetic analyses remain necessary. Using the likelihood ratio test, a molecular clock for the drug user strains was calibrated. A fixation rate between 1.08 × 10−4 and 2.7 × 10−5 nucleotide substitutions per site per year was calculated for the IIa and IIb injecting drug user strains. This is the lowest fixation rate so far reported for RNA viruses, including for HIV, which typically range between 10−2 and 10−4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria is the property of Thieme Medical Publishing Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)-infected subjects with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are often infected with multiple pathogens. In particular, HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections have been found more frequently in AIDS patients than in asymptomatic individuals in Europe and Japan. We carried out a serosurvey among asymptomatic HIV-1-infected subjects in São Paulo, Brazil and compared our results with those of other investigators. In this study, we found HTLV infection in 1.5% of 266 asymptomatic and 14% of 28 AIDS patients. Epidemiological data obtained from patients pointed out the use of intravenous drugs as the principal risk factor for acquiring retroviruses. In conclusion, our results are in accordance with other studies done in Brazil and elsewhere where the principal risk group for HIV/HTLV-I/II coinfection was IDUPrevalência de infecção HTLV-I e HTLV-II em portadores assintomáticos do HIV-1 da cidade de São Paulo, SP, Brasil Indivíduos infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV-1) geralmente apresentam infecções por múltiplos patógenos, dentre eles, os HTLV-I e HTLV-II. Estes foram descritos com freqüência variável em pacientes com AIDS e portadores assintomáticos do HIV-1, tanto na Europa como no Japão. Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de determinar a prevalência de infecção HTLV-I e -II em portadores assintomáticos do HIV-1 da cidade de São Paulo, e comparar os resultados obtidos com os descritos em literatura e os por nós anteriormente publicados. Foi detectada infecção HTLV em 1,5% dos 266 portadores assintomáticos do HIV-1 e 14% dos 28 casos de AIDS analisados. Com base em dados epidemiológicos foi confirmado como sendo o principal fator de risco para adquirir a coinfecção HIV/HTLV, o uso de injetáveis

We review here the epidemiological studies performed by our group on human retrovirus HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections and the associated diseases in French Guiana since 1984. French Guiana is an overseas French administrative district located between Brazil and Surinam. Its population is characterized by a large variety of ethnic groups, including several populations of African origin and various populations of Amerindian origin. Several epidemiological studies of large samples of pregnant women and in remote villages showed that HTLV-I is highly endemic in this area but is restricted to groups of African origin, especially the Noir-Marrons. In this endemic population, the results of segregation analysis in a genetic epidemiological study were consistent with the presence of a dominant major gene predisposing to HTLV-I infection, especially in children. In contrast, HTLV-II infection appears to be rare in French Guiana, having been found in only a few individuals of Brazilian origin. From a molecular point of view, the HTLV-I strains present in the Noir-Marrons, Creoles and Amerindians appear to originate from Africa, as they belong to the large cosmopolitan molecular subtype A.

We conducted a cross-sectional study of the spatial distribution of HTLV-I/II infection among blood donors of Hemominas Foundation, living in Belo Horizonte, from 1994 to 1996. Study population (1,022) was composed by 533 cases (positive Western Blot (WB), indeterminate WB and ELISA positive without WB result) and a random sample of 489 non-cases (HTLV-I/II serum negative). Cases and non-cases were georeferenced using the exact or an approximation of the household address reported at the blood donation interview. Using multivariate analysis, cases with WB result are less likely to be reposition blood donors compared to voluntary ones (OR = 0.70; CI 95%: 0.50-0.99). Using the difference between univariate K functions, we found no evidence that cases and non-cases differ in their spatial distribution. We found no evidence that cases with and without WB result differ in the distance between their residence and Hemominas Foundation. No donors without WB result were georeferenced by the exact address. These donors could not have received the Hemominas letter inviting them to return to collect the second blood sample.

We conducted a cross-sectional study of the spatial distribution of HTLV-I/II infection among blood donors of Hemominas Foundation, living in Belo Horizonte, from 1994 to 1996. Study population (1,022) was composed by 533 cases (positive Western Blot (WB), indeterminate WB and ELISA positive without WB result) and a random sample of 489 non-cases (HTLV-I/II serum negative). Cases and non-cases were georeferenced using the exact or an approximation of the household address reported at the blood donation interview. Using multivariate analysis, cases with WB result are less likely to be reposition blood donors compared to voluntary ones (OR = 0.70; CI 95%: 0.50-0.99). Using the difference between univariate K functions, we found no evidence that cases and non-cases differ in their spatial distribution. We found no evidence that cases with and without WB result differ in the distance between their residence and Hemominas Foundation. No donors without WB result were georeferenced by the exact address. These donors could not have received the Hemominas letter inviting them to return to collect the second blood sample.

Brazil may have the highest absolute number of HTLV-I/II seropositive individuals in the world. Screening potential blood donors for HTLV-I/II is mandatory in Brazil. The public blood center network accounts for about 80.0% of all blood collected. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the geographic distribution of HTLV-I/II serological screening prevalence rates in blood donors from 27 large urban areas in the various States of Brazil, from 1995 to 2000. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to test for HTLV-I/II. The mean prevalence rates ranged from 0.4/1,000 in Florianópolis, capital of Santa Catarina State, in the South, to 10.0/1,000 in São Luiz, Maranhão State, in the Northeast. EIA prevalence rates are lower in the South and higher in the North and Northeast. The reasons for such heterogeneity may be multiple and need further studies.