Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1/2 and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies identification among transactional sex workers and drug users in the Dominican Republic

Abstract

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) increases the risk of acquiring human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) and subsequently HTLV's progression to tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM). Existing data have exclusively reported generalized rates of HIV and HTLV-1 chronic viral infections in the Dominican Republic. To our knowledge, no published studies have focused on the rates of HTLV-1/2 in transactional sex workers and drug users, both higher risk groups, in the Dominican Republic. Methods: From December 2012 to April 2013 we conducted a study to estimate the seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and HIV antibodies among transactional sex workers and intravenous drug users in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Serological status was analysed with behaviour and demographic data. Results: We collected and analysed plasma from 200 participants with a mean age of 27.4 y in men and 25.2 y in women. The overall weighted seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2 IgG antibodies was 13.91% (95% CI 7.59 to 20.23) in men and 10.59% (95% CI 4.05 to 17.13) in women. The overall weighted seroprevalence of HIV-1 was 13.91% (95% CI 7.59 to 20.23%) in men and 17.65% (95% CI 9.55 to 25.75) in women. Male intravenous drug users had an exceptionally high rate of HTLV-positive HIV co-infection, at 75% (95% CI 44.99 to 105.01). Although there an association has been found between HTLV/HIV co-infections and sex work, the adjusted odds revealed a confounding role of HIV infection. Conclusions: The results highlight the urgent need for enhanced public health preventive strategies among high-risk populations in the Dominican Republic and other resource-constrained Caribbean settings, as well as global adoption of routine screening for HTLV-associated infections, particularly in these high-risk, underserved populations.

Human T‐Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 and associated diseases in Latin America

“…BD: blood donors, PW: pregnant women, GP: general population, IP: indigenous population. Black dots indicate foci of HTLV‐1 in indigenous groups .…”

“…In the Caribbean region, a few studies about prevalence of HTLV‐1 have been done, mainly in the most densely populated islands . Jamaica is considered an endemic country and several ATLL cases have been reported there .…”

“… Most of the reports were performed in Brazil, Peru and Jamaica; all of them are considered endemic regions , , . …”

Seroprevalence and Trends of HTLV-1/2 among Blood Donors of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2012-2017

“…As a Caribbean country, the Dominican Republic has an estimated prevalence of HTLV-1 infection ranging from 1 to 5% [5]. Nonetheless, there are very few studies in this particular country, most of them focused on risk groups [9][10][11]. Therefore, new and specific studies are needed to estimate the mined.…”

“…More recently, Paulino-Ramirez et al performed a study in which they collected and analyzed plasma from 200 participants co-infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV); they were transactional sex workers and intravenous drug users of Santo Domingo and they presented an overall weighted seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2 IgG antibodies of 13.91% in men and 10.59% in women [11].…”