HTLV testing of solid organ transplant donors

Purpose of review The potential for transmission of donor-derived infections (DDIs) is impossible to eliminate, but a thoughtful and systematic approach to donor evaluation can mitigate the risk. Prevention is a key issue and clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion and remain vigilant in staying up to date on emerging infections. COVID-19 and Monkeypox have represented a new challenge for infectious disease screening and recommendations have been evolving, as knowledge in the field has grown. Additional considerations for pretransplant deceased donor screening include testing for neglected and endemic infectious diseases such as strongyloidiasis and HTLV 1/2. Molecular diagnostic tests have improved awareness on pathogenicity of mollicutes and fungi in the setting of DDIs. The aim of this review is to provide an update on the most recent literature on DDI with a special focus on these emerging hot topics. Recent findings Donor screening for uncommon pathogens must be guided by knowledge of changing epidemiology of infectious disease and availability of new diagnostic methods. Summary Appropriate screening, early recognition, timely reporting, close monitoring, and appropriate management are essential to help reducing the risk of emerging DDIs.

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“…In Europe, only Romania represents an endemic area for HTLV-1/2. However, there are worldwide evolving foci of HTLV-1 infections [ 26 ].…”

Section: Htlv 1/2mentioning

confidence: 99%

Donor-derived infections in solid organ transplant recipients

Peghin

Grossi

2023

Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation

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“…Recognition of HIV-2 is facilitated by wide HIV screening programs. However, at this time universal HTLV screening only has been implemented in the transplantation setting, 46,47 following the report of 5 cases of TSP/HAM in recipients of HTLV-1 positive organs. 22,23 There is a window of opportunity for major intervention expanding HTLV testing to all pregnant women as part of antenatal screening (along with HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis) and in persons attending STI clinics, as HTLV-1 is largely transmitted by sexual contact.…”

Section: Hiv-2 Epidemicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The slowdown of new infections by human retroviruses has reached a plateau in Spain

Mendoza

Carrizo

Sauleda

et al. 2023

Journal of Medical Virology

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The 2022 annual meeting of the HTLV & HIV-2 Spanish Network was held in Madrid on December 14. We summarize here the main information presented and discussed at the workshop and review time trends for human retroviral infections in Spain. As transmissible agents, infections by human retroviruses are of obligatory declaration.Until the end of 2022, the Spanish national registry had recorded 451 cases of HTLV-1, 821 of HTLV-2, and 416 of HIV-2. For HIV-1, estimates are of 150 000 people currently living with HIV-1 and 60 000 cumulative deaths due to AIDS.During year 2022, new diagnoses in Spain were of 22 for HTLV-1, 6 for HTLV-2, and 7 for HIV-2. The last updated figures for HIV-1 are from 2021 and counted 2786 new diagnoses. The slowdown in yearly infections for HIV-1 in Spain points out that new strategies are needed to achieve the United Nations 95-95-95 targets by 2025.

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