Heterogeneous geographic distribution of human T-cell lymphotropic viruses I and II (HTLV-I/II): serological screening prevalence rates in blood donors from large urban areas in Brazil

Abstract

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.

Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 and Type 2 Seroprevalence, Incidence, and Residual Transfusion Risk Among Blood Donors in Brazil During 2007–2009

“…The prevalences found for HTLV-1 and -2 confirm previous studies that Brazil is an endemic country for these viruses. 6,15,16 The overall HTLV prevalence found in blood donors from the three centers in Brazil (135.2/10 5 ) is comparable to donors in countries in South America 5,7,9 and lower than among donors in countries in Central America, 8 Caribbean, Africa, Iran, and Melanesia. 5,10 It is, however, much higher than those found in blood donors in Europe .…”

“…10 While the disease spectrum of viruses is not fully known, uveitis and infectious dermatitis have also been associated with HTLV-1, and HTLV-2 has been linked to pulmonary inflammation and increased cancer mortality. [10][11][12][13][14] HTLV-1/2 infection is endemic in Brazil 15,16 and testing blood donors for these viruses is mandatory in the country since 1993. Several studies show that the infection is more prevalent in women and occurs in clusters of higher prevalence.…”

“…Several studies show that the infection is more prevalent in women and occurs in clusters of higher prevalence. [15][16][17] However, recent data from a representative national study of Brazilian blood donors were lacking. We present herein the results of a collaborative study in three blood centers from different geographic regions in Brazil.…”

Association between urinary symptoms and quality of life in HTLV-1 infected subjects without myelopathy

“…Regions such as Japan, Africa, the Caribbean Islands and South America have the highest incidence of infection (3). In Brazil, Bahia is one of the states with the highest prevalence, totalizing 9.4 individuals per 1,000 blood donors (4). Salvador, the state's capital, is the city with the highest prevalence of infected individuals, with 1.76% of the resident population being affected by the virus (5).…”

Prevalência da infecção pelo HTLV-1, em remanescentes de quilombos no Brasil Central

“…Estudo sobre HTLV�1�2, realizado em doadores de sangue nas capitais dos Estados brasileiros e Distrito Federal, obteve soroprevalência de 0,1% a 1%, sendo superior nas Regiões �orte e �ordeste, e inferior no sul do Brasil. �a Região Centro�Oeste, a prevalência verificada nessa população variou de 0,2% a 0,7% 4 . Em gestantes, uma prevalência de 0,1% foi observada para o HTLV�1 em Mato Grosso do Sul e Goiás 7 18 , e de 0,2% para HTLV�1�2 em Mato Grosso 25 .…”