A case‐control study of risk factors associated with human T‐cell lymphotrophic virus type‐I seropositivity in blood donors from Guadeloupe, French West Indies

Abstract

These data provide a wide spectrum of features associated with HTLV-I seropositivity, especially sexual risk factors. It strongly suggests that heterosexual intercourse is an important route of HTLV-I transmission in Guadeloupe, even among low-risk populations such as blood donors.

A case-control study of HTLV-infection among blood donors in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil - associated risk factors and trend towards declining prevalence

“…Unfortunately we were not provided with details of this population in the Guadeloupean study, where single marital status was found to be a risk factor for HTLV infection, yet without statistical significance. 16 Another unexpected and also interesting finding of the present study was a lower prevalence of HTLV infection among blood donors when compared to data published in 1993. 14 We have observed a reduction in the prevalence of HTLV infection among blood donors in Salvador from 1.35% to 0.48% in the span of one decade.…”

“…A relatively unexpected finding of our study was the lack of association between age at first sexual relationship and risk for HTLV infection, not even in the univariate analysis. In the study by Rouet et al in Guadalupe, 16 in which age at first sexual relationship was found to be a risk factor for HTLV infection, mean ages of initiation of sexual relationships for cases and controls were, respectively, 17.2 and 19.3 years old. While the mean age of first sexual contact among HTLV-infected individuals was quite similar in both studies, in our control population the initiation of the sexual life occurred almost three years earlier.…”

“…In line with previous reports, our results show an association between HTLV infection and lower socioeconomical and educational levels, as well as unsafe sexual practices. 13,[16][17][18] In the univariate analysis the following were identified as risk factors for HTLV infection: an older age, being female, lower education level, lower personal and family incomes, higher number of children and inconsistent condom use. Likewise, previous self-reported history of STD, previous blood transfusion and smoking were also found to be risk factors.…”

High prevalence of HTLV-I infection in Mashhad, Northeast Iran: A population-based seroepidemiology survey

“…It has been suggested that lower socioeconomic status tends to be associated with infection. 30,31 Dourado et al reported that less education and income might be associated with HTLV-I infection in females of Salvador, Brazil. 24 Finally, our study also demonstrated that HTLV-I infection is associated with Hijamat (wet cupping).…”

Gender-Specific Issues in Non-HIV Viral Infections

“…It has been postulated that the increase in HTLV-1 prevalence rates in the younger than 30 age group could be the result of high levels of sexual transmission in this population. In Jamaica or French West Indies, for example, women who were HTLV-1 seropositive were slightly more likely to have had more than three lifetime sex partners, earlier age at first sexual intercourse, and a history of sexually transmitted diseases [10][11][12]. In many studies an increased risk of seropositivity has been seen with increasing age but also with prior miscarriages, caesarian sections, and high gravidity.…”