HTLV-I/II Infections in Spain

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Antibodies to HTLV-I/II were inmtigated in sera from 7521 individuals living in Spain. They were clasified in four major groups: a) subjects at high risk of retroviral infections e.g. parentml drug addicts, homosexuals, prostitutes, and multiple-transfused individuals; b) patients suffering illness associated with HTLV-I in endemic regions; c) immigrants from endemic areas; and d) blood donors. Sera were collected from 1984 to December 1991. Repeatedly reactive ELISA was found in 211 samples (2.8%), but Western blot only confirmed the presence of HTLV-I/II antibodies in 23 samples (0.30%), corresponding to eight (0.25%) out of 3207 drug abusers, six (0.72%) out of 834 immigrants (five Africans and one Swth American), three (0.41%) out of 727 patients with HTLV-related diseases (one woman with HTLV-I associated myelopathy had received blood transfusions in an endemic area), four (0.54%) wt of 793 prostitutes, one multiple-transfused native woman, and one (0.16%) out of 603 native saamen. The Westem blot antipattern confirmed HTLV-II infection instead of HTLV-I in nine (39%) subjects. The remaining 14 (61%) HTLV-reactive samples were interpreted as HTLV-I seropositive, most of which were from immigrants. None of 857 blood donors analysed was reactive for HTLV antibody. These results suggest that b t h HTLV-I and HTLV-II are present in Spain, although at a low rate and mostly restricted to individuals coming from endemic areas, drug addicts, and prostitutes. Furthermore, diseases related to HTLV-I (particularly lymphoproliferative disorders, and subacute myelopthied seem to be rarely associated with these viruses in Spain, a non-endemic area.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: