Diagnosis and phylogenetic characterization of HTLV-1/2 infection in pregnant women from Argentina

EIRIN ME, BERINI C, TORRES O, JUÁREZ M, BENEDICTI M, LUGONES S, PIANCIOLA L, NADAL M¸ PANDO M, BIGLIONE M

Hakone, Japan

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

The International Retrovirology Association

Background: Screening of blood donors (BD) has revealed endemic HTLV-1 and 2 areas in the North of Argentina. In Europe, the prevalence of HTLV is significantly higher among pregnant women (PW) than in BD. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of HTLV among PW and to perform the phylogenetic analyze of HTLV. Methods 1867 PW who attended to two public hospitals from Buenos Aires and Neuquén (non endemic areas) were studied. ELISA and WB were used. A Nested-PCR was used for amplification of LTR region. Neighbour Joinig Tree was generated by using Mega 3.0. Results: Final prevalence of HTLV was 0.16% (3/1867). One sample (0.05%) was an HTLV-1 and 2 samples (0.1%) were HTLV-2. The HTLV-1 case and 1 HTLV-2 (from BA) were co-infected with HIV-1 and their partners were injecting drug users and had HIV infection. The other HTLV-2 had no risk factors. The HTLV-1 isolate clustered in the HTLV-1 aA subtype and the HTLV-2 sample in 2b subtype. 12 PW (0.64%) were HIV-1+. Conclusions: Prevalence for HTLV-1/2 (0.16%) was higher but not significantly different than the one previously reported in BD in BA (0.07%). The HIV-1 prevalence was similar to previous data in PW and in BD in BA. HTLV-1 sample clustered in the HTLV-1 aA subtype, the most common strain detected in the country. The HTLV-2 grouped with the HTLV-2 b subtype, more frequently detected among natives of the north and IDUs from BA. These data show that HTLVs are circulating among PW in non endemic areas of the country. Diagnosis of HTLV in PW should be considered especially in endemic areas of the country.