Seroprevalence study of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Tripanosoma cruzi and Treponema pallidum infections in Kollas and Guaraní natives from Argentina.

EIRIN ME, ; MALAN R; BERINI C; DERISSIO AM; DOPACIO K; PUCA A; DELFINO C; PANDO MA; JONES LR,; ALFIE LG; GRIEMBERG G; PEDROZO WR; KRUPP RA; GARCIA PLICHTA AE; BIGLIONE MM

Salvador de Bahia

Conferencia; 14th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and related retroviruses; 2009

International Society of Human Retrovirology

Introduction: HTLV-1/2 is distributed worldwide and is endemic among natives of South America. In Argentina, HTLV-1 infection has been reported as endemic among natives (Kollas) from the Northwest, while HTLV-2 among Tobas and Wichis from the Gran Chaco Region in the North. Tripanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) was also detected among these two native populations, while Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) infection was only reported in aboriginals from the Chaco Region. Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has not been reported up to the present in these communities. Objective: to determine the prevalence of HTLV-1/2, HIV, T. cruzi and T. pallidum infections in natives from Northwest (NW) and Northeast (NE) regions of the country and to perform the molecular characterization of HTLV-1/2. Materials y Methods: A total of 112 Kollas from Jujuy (NW) and 298 Guarani from Misiones (NE) individuals were studied. An informed consent was signed by all participants. The screening was performed by HTLV-1 PA, Serodia, Fujirebio; HIV-1/2 ELISA Dade Behring; Enzygnost anti HIV ½ plus; SFD HIV ½ PA, Biorad Fujirebio. Reactive samples were confirmed by WB: HTLV Blot 2.4 Genelabs Diagnostics and New Lab Blot-1, Bio-Rad, respectively. Screening of T. cruzi was performed by indirect HA and ELISA (FATALA KIT) and for T. pallidum infection by VDRL test (Wiener Lab.) and HA (TPHA Biosystems). Confirmation of repeatedly reactive/discordant samples was performed by IFI (FATALA KIT for T. cruzi) and IFI (FTA-abs Immunofluorescence Biocientífica SA, for T. pallidum). Phylogenetic analysis was carried out by MrBayes program and tree topology was visualized by TreeView. Results: Eleven (9.8 %) out of 112 Kollas were confirmed as HTLV-1 positive classified as Transcontinental Subgroup. All Guarani samples were HTLV-1/2 negative. Two Guarani individuals were HIV seroindeterminate. Three (2.3%) Kollas were positive for T. cruzi infection while 11 (9.8%) Kollas and 20 (6.7%) Guaranies were positive for T. pallidum infection. Two (1.8%) Kollas were co-infected with HTLV-1/T. pallidum. None of positive individuals reported previous blood transfusion or illegal drug use. Conclusions: This study shows that HTLV-1 infection has been maintained among Kollas from the NW with a similar seroprevalence to previous reports, while T. cruzi infection was significantly lower. In opposite to other Guaraní populations of Paraguay or Brazil, no HTLV-1/2 cases were detected in this Guaraní community. Concerning the prevalence of T. pallidum infection among Guaranies, it was higher than in blood donors of the same area. Finally, our data highlights the importance of implementing new public health policies adapted to aboriginal communities focusing on sexual and mother-to-child transmission of these infectious diseases.