Seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2 in blood donors from Misiones Province, Argentina

BERINI C; MALAN R; EIRIN ME; PEDROZO W; DELFINO C; KRUPP R; GARCIA PLICHTA A; BIGLIONE M

Salvador de Bahia

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

International Society of Human Retrovirology

Introduction: HTLV-1 was the first human retrovirus to be discovered and is the causative agent of Adult T cell Leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-1 Associated Mielopathy /Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP). HTLV-2 has not been associated to a defined pathology yet. HTLV-1/2 infection has been reported all around the world, with prevalence rates that vary considerably according to the country and the population of study. MisionesProvince has a very heterogeneous population with inhabitants that are descendants of natives related to Brazilian and Paraguayan Guaranies where HTLV-2 is present; and from North and Central Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Spain, Lebanon, Syria, Japan, Laos, Korea and Taiwan. The aim of this study was to determine for the first time the seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2 in a blood donor population of MisionesProvince in the Northeast region of Argentina. Materials and methods: All consecutive blood donations that were received at the Banco de Sangre Central de la Provincia de Misiones, during January 1st to December 31st, 2008 were studied. Antibodies anti-HTLV-1/2 were screened using a commercial ELISA (Elisa/ MUREX HTLV I+II, MUREX Biotech England). All reactive samples were then sent to the Centro Nacional de Referencia para el SIDA for diagnosis. All repeatedly- reactive samples were confirmed by western blot (WB) (HTLV BLOT 2.4, Genelabs Diagnostics, Singapore). Results: Out of 6912 blood donors, 72% were men and 28% were women with a mean age of 35 years. After HTLV-1/2 screening, 6 samples resulted reactive. Of them, two HTLV, one HTLV-2 and 3 HTLV-1 were confirmed by WB. The final prevalence of HTLV-1/2 was 0.09% (6/6912) while it was 0.03% (2/6912) for HTLV, 0.04% (3/6912) for HTLV-1 and 0.01% (1/6912) for HTLV-2. All HTLV-1/2 positive individuals were men with a mean age of 41.8 years. Three were from the capital city of Posadas, one from Oberá, one from Eldorado and one from San Vicente. Five of the six blood donors did not report any risk factor and only one resident of Posadas had a Brazilian grandmother. Discussion: This is the first time that HTLV-1/2 infection is detected among blood donors from Misiones Province. Although the prevalence is similar as in non-endemic areas, more studies should be carried out in order to determine more accurately the situation of the infection in this particular geographic and ethnic region.