PREVALENCE OF HTLV-I/II INFECTION AMONG DIFFERENT AT RISK POPULATIONS IN ARGENTINA

BERINI C; EIRIN ME; PANDO MA; SALOMON H; MARTINEZ PERALTA L; AVILA MM; WEISSENBACHER M; BIGLIONE M

Montego Bay

Conferencia; 12th International Conference on Human Retrovirology; 2005

Background: HTLV-I/II infection has been reported in Argentina with prevalence rates depending on the geographic area and the population studied. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of HTLV-I/II infection among intravenous drug users (IDUs), men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSW) from 2002 to 2003. Methods: 1453 samples (173 IDUs, 613 FSW and 667 MSM) from 6 different cities were tested for antibodies anti-HTLV-I/II by particle agglutination (Serodia, Fujirebio) and reactive samples were confirmed by western blot (HTLV Blot 2.4 Genelabs Diagnostics). IDUs and MSM individuals are from Buenos Aires city. FSW are from Salta, Mendoza, Rosario, Cordoba, La Plata and Buenos Aires. Results: HTLV-I/II prevalence was 17% (29/173)(95%CI: 11.69-23.36) among IDUs, 1.6% (10/613) (95%CI: 0.83-3.08) for FSW and 0.3% (2/667) (95%CI: 0.05-1.2) for MSM. IDUs prevalence was significantly higher than FSW (p<0.001) and both significantly higher than in MSM. Among IDUs HTLV-II was significantly higher  than HTLV-I (p<0.001). Out of 7 HTLV-I among FSW 4 were from Salta.   Conclusions: HTLV-I/II is circulating among different at risk populations in Argentina. HTLV-II continues being more frequent among IDUs. HTLV-I was more frequent among FSW due to having included females from an endemic area in the Northwest. Measures for preventing the spread of HTLV-I/II other than in blood donors should be considered.