Prevalência, fatores de risco e caracterização genética dos vírus linfotrópico de células T humana tipo 1 e 2 em pacientes infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana tipo 1 nas Cidades de Ribeirão Preto e São Paulo

Abstract

The aim of this study was to define the prevalence of human T cell lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 in patients who were positive for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. We evaluated 319 individuals infected with HIV type 1 who were attended at specialized clinics in two cities (Ribeirão Preto and São Paulo). The patients were interviewed and tested for antibodies against HTLV types 1 and 2 (Orthoâ HTLV-1/HTLV-2 Ab-Capture enzyme immunoassay). Direct DNA sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products from the tax region of HTLV type 2 and the long terminal repeat region of HTLV types 1 and 2 were performed to differentiate and determine the subtypes. The overall prevalence of anti-HTLV type 1 and 2 antibodies was 7.5% (24/319; 95% CI: 5.2-11.5). HTLV type 1 and 2 infection was associated with a history of injected drug use and with antibodies for hepatitis C virus (p < 0.001), but not with age (p = 0.2), sex (p = 0.9), sexual behavior or serological markers for sexually transmitted diseases (anti-Treponema pallidum, anti-human herpesvirus type 8 or anti-hepatitis B virus antibodies) (p > 0.05). HTLV DNA was detected in 13 out of 24 samples, of which 12 were characterized as HTLV subtype 2c and one as HTLV subtype 1a. Among the 12 HTLV type 2 samples, seven were from injected drug users, thus indicating that this route is an important risk factor for HTLV type 2 transmission among our population infected with HIV type 1.

Seroprevalence of HTLV in a Population of Hiv1-Infected Patients in Midwestern Brazil

“…These data was in accordance with those reported in HIV1-infected patients in Brazil in whom this HTLV1 subgroup is predominant 6 , 17 , 19 , 21 . …”

“…In this study, one HTLV1/HIV1 coinfected patient was seropositive to HCV and reported IDU. This behavior has been reported by others authors among HTLV1/HIV1/HCV coinfected patients 20 , 21 , 24 , reflecting the high transmissibility of these viruses through direct blood contact resulting from the sharing of syringes and needles.…”

“…Similarly, HTLV1 was also identified in the majority of HTLV/HIV1 coinfected patients in Piauí 6 , Porto Alegre 9 and Feira de Santana 17 , unlike those from São Paulo , where similar distribution of HTLV1 and HTLV2 was reported 10 . By contrast, some previous studies have demonstrated high HTLV2/HIV1 coinfection rates in Belém 18 , 19 , where HTLV2 infection is known to be endemic, as well as in Londrina 20 , Ribeirão Preto and São Paulo 21 where this coinfection was associated with IDU.…”

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 and 2 among people who used illicit drugs in the state of Pará, northern Brazil

“…In Brazil, injecting drug use, sharing of drug use paraphernalia and unprotected sex with IDUs have already been reported as factors associated with HTLV-1/2 infection. The use of injecting drugs has also been indicated as an important factor associated with the transmission of HTLV-2 in Brazil, Argentina and Spain 11,31,34,42 . Involvement with illicit/criminal activities facilitates greater contact with drug traffickers in the Amazon region and therefore enables access to a greater quantity and diversity of drugs, thus contributing significantly to chemical dependence and multifactorial exposure to the HTLV-1/2 and other pathogens.…”