Decreasing trends in HTLV‐1/2 but stable HIV‐1 infection among replacement donors in Argentina

Abstract

In Argentina, current procedures to ensure safety of the blood supply for transfusion include reviewing the records of blood donors with particular attention to the serologic detection of specific blood borne infections. Data of 28,483 blood donations received from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2008 in a public hospital in Buenos Aires were analyzed. Of the 28,483 blood donations, 7,442 (26.1%) were female donors, 14,582 (51.2%) were younger than 35 years old, and 23,746 (83.4%) were Argentine. Among all, only 285 (1.0%) were voluntary donations. The prevalence of HTLV-1/2 was 0.1% (95% CI 0.063-0.15), being 0.07% for HTLV-1 and 0.03% for HTLV-2. The prevalence of HIV-1 was 0.2% (95% CI 0.110-0.206). No HIV-1/HTLV-1/2 co-infections were detected among volunteer donors. During this study period, data confirm that HTLV-1/2 infection was not endemic in Buenos Aires, and that the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 decreased throughout while HIV-1 was stable. Due to the small number of voluntary donations, we could not conduct comparisons to infection rates in replacement donations. Although there have been several ongoing programs aimed at recruiting voluntary blood donations and changing from mostly replacement donations to an altruistic system of blood donations, Argentina is still far from reaching this objective. Additional efforts are needed in order to increase and assure the quality of blood supply in this country.

Silent dissemination of HTLV-1 in an endemic area of Argentina. Epidemiological and molecular evidence of intrafamilial transmission

“…Previous studies in high-endemic areas of Brazil and Africa have reported prevalence rates similar to values found in this study [2, 28], corroborating that Jujuy province is a high endemic area for HTLV-1 infection, with prevalence rates much higher than values recognized in other regions of the country [29–31]. In other high-endemic areas of the world, such as Japan, the prevalence of HTLV-1 is 38.5% among relatives of infected individuals [32].…”

Seroprevalence study of HTLV-1 and 2 in prospective blood donors and pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

“…It falls in-between that recorded in Lagos in 1998 which is 3/406(0.7%) (Analo et al, 1998), and the prevalence rate reported in blood donors in Oshogbo which was 14/372 (3.6%) in 2008 (Terry et al, 2011). HTLV prevalence increases with age and is commoner in females (Olaleye et al, 1994;Berini et al, 2010;Diop et al, 2006), higher rates are seen in female donors than male donors (Ragin et al, 2008). However, in this study, HTLV positivity was seen in only males (1.4%).Age-prevalence of HTLV is 1 (0.8%) in 25-34years age group and 1 (0.8%) in 35-44years age group.…”

Epidemiological Aspects and World Distribution of HTLV-1 Infection

“…The numerous studies performed on blood donors and pregnant women from different areas of Argentina have revealed globally a low or very HTLV-1 seroprevalence, ranging roughly from 0.01 to 0.2% depending on the type and geographical location of the tested populations (Gastaldello et al, 2004; Trenchi et al, 2007; Berini et al, 2010). Some regions are thus considered as non-endemic (as the central areas) in contrast to the Northeastern provinces of the country (Biglione et al, 2005).…”