HTLV-2a and b subtypes among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in Argentina

BIGLIONE M, BERINI C, EIRIN ME, DILERNIA D, PANDO M, RABINOVICH D, SALOMON H

Hakone, Japan

Congreso; 13th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and related retroviruses; 2007

The International Retrovirology Association

Background In Argentina, HTLV-2b subtype is endemic in Amerindians from the North region and HTLV-2a subtype has been detected in an IDU HIV positive (IVDAros). This study shows the phylogenetic analysis of HTLV-2 samples from IDUs recluted in Buenos Aires. Methods Eleven samples from IDUs with HIV infection were analyzed. Particle Agglutination was used for the screening of antibodies and reactive samples were confirmed by Western Blot. DNA was extracted by using Qiagen extraction kit. The amplification of LTR region (528 bp) and env gene (600 bp) was performed by a highly sensible nested PCR. BioEdit sequence alignment editor and MEGA 3.0 were used to carry out the Neighbour Joining Tree (NJ). Results The LTR phylogenetic analysis showed that 10 out 11 samples clustered within the HTLV-2b Subtype (81% bootstrap), closer to isolates of natives from Colombia, Argentina, USA, a Cameroon pigmy and IDUs from USA. Sample “89073IDU” clustered in the HTLV-2a Subtype (96% bootstrap) closer to Brazilian isolates but not in the same subcluster of IVDAros sample. The env gene could be amplified from 4 HTLV-2b samples, confirming the LTR result. Conclusions This study describes for the first time the presence of HTLV-2b Subtype among IDUs in Argentina. This data may be due to migrations of aborigines to big cities and the introduction of drugs in this population. In the last years, there was also a high rate of immigration and tourism from several parts of the world to Argentina that may  contribute to the spread of HTLV-2 b in our country.