HTLV-I/II Infection among Children Born to HIV Mothers

BERINI C; EIRIN ME; VIGNOLES M; SALOMÓN H; BIGLIONE M

Baltimore

Encuentro; 2004 International Meeting of the Institute of Human Virology; 2004

Institute of Human Virology

HTLV-I/II infection in South America has been reported in different populations. HTLV-I/II, as well as HIV have the same mechanisms of transmission. The objective of this study was to detect HTLV-I/II infection among 516 children under 18 months who were tested for HIV-1 diagnosis at the NRCA. Antibodies anti-HTLV-I/II were detected by particle agglutination (PA) (Serodia, Fujirebio, Japan) and  reactive samples were confirmed by  western blot (WB) (HTLV Blot 2.4 Genelabs Diagnostics, Singapore). A highly sensible nested PCR was used for detection of  pol gene (primers SK110 /SK111)  and tax gene (primers SK43/SK44) for both retroviruses. Out of 516 samples, 16 were reactive by AP. Of them, 7 were positive by WB (2 HTLV, 2 HTLV-I, 3 HTLV-II), 5 indeterminate and 4 negative.  Nested PCR was performed on the 12 positive and indeterminate samples. The 2 HTLV and 1 HTLV-I were confirmed positive for pol and tax for HTLV-I. The other positive and indeterminate samples were negative for both retroviruses. The final HTLV-I/II  prevalence was 0.6 % (3/ 516). Out of a total of  516 samples, 21 (4.06%) were HIV-1 positive but only one case of HIV/HTLV-I was observed. This study confirms vertical transmission of HTLV-I/II not necessarily infected with HIV-1. This suggests the circulation of HTLV-I/II among pregnant women even in a non endemic area. Infection of HTLV-I/II should be detected in this population to prevent dissemination specially in the North of Argentina where both HTLV-I and II are endemic.