Seroprevalence of human T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) antibodies among blood donors at Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract

BackgroundHuman T-cell lymphotrophic/leukemia virus (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus implicated in transfusion-transmitted infection.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HTLV-1 antibodies among blood donors at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Eastern Nigeria.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out on consented participants over 4 months. A total of 300 blood donors were recruited consecutively from the blood bank. The serum of the collected 5 mL of blood obtained from each participant was stored at −20°C until required for analysis. The serum samples were then analyzed for antibodies to HTLV-1 using a one-step incubation double-antigen sandwich ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kit. Participants’ demographic characteristics and degree of exposure to the risk factors associated with HTLV-1 infection were captured using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis of results was done using SPSS version 17.ResultsOf the 300 blood donors, 288 (96%) were male, while 12 (4%) were female. The average age of the blood donors was 26.85±8.52 years. The age group with the highest representation among the blood donors were those aged between 21 and 25 years. Only 22.3% of the blood donors were above 30 years. None of the 300 screened blood donors tested positive to HTLV-1 antibodies. Hence, the seroprevalence of HTLV-1 infection among blood donors was 0%. Of the blood donors, 5% had history of previous sexually transmitted disease, while 34.7% used condoms during sexual intercourse.ConclusionThe seroprevalence obtained in this study cannot statistically support the justification of routine screening of blood donors for HTLV-1 infection. More prospective and multicentered studies are required to determine the infectivity of HTLV-1 in blood donors in Nigeria.

Prevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus 1/2 in Nigeria’s capital territory and meta-analysis of Nigerian studies

“…Durojaiye et al 5 found 0.5% prevalence among blood donors in 2014, while Yuguda et al 10 reported 3.2% in 2017 without confirmatory assays. Okoye et al 1,6 showed prevalence rates of 0.5% and 0%, respectively, in South-East. Zero prevalence has also been reported previously in Nigeria 11 and cases of dual infection with both HTLV-1 and -2 have also been reported in Nigeria.…”

“…Human T-lymphotropic viruses 1/2 (HTLV-1/2) are primate T-lymphotropic viruses and members of the deltaretroviruses, which include simian T-cell leukaemia virus (STLV) and bovine leukaemia virus. 1 In about 7% of the infected individuals, HTLV-1 is the aetiological agent of an aggressive lymphoproliferative malignancy known as adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL), as well as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), a neurological disorder associated with increased lymphoproliferation. It is also associated with a host of other diseases.…”

“…8 The country’s policy on blood transfusion is still restricted to other transfusion-transmitted infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), HIV and Syphilis. 1 Despite being the capital of Nigeria and a cosmopolitan city constantly visited en masse by individuals from all over the country, only one study 7 (HTLV-1/HIV co-infection) has been carried out in Abuja, which found a prevalence of 6.5% among HIV-positive individuals. No report of HTLV-2 has been recorded.…”