Detection of HTLV-1 among hematology patients in Germany: a retrospective study

RUGGIERI M,; BERINI C; DUCASA N ; FISCH P; BIGLIONE MM

Congreso; XIX INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RETROVIROLOGY HTLV AND RELATED VIRUSES; 2019

Introduction: the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 in Germany is low even in drug users and HTLV-1 screening of blood and organ donors is not mandatory in this country. Nonetheless, HTLV-1 and its pathologies, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL) are occasionally detected.Objective: the objective of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the presence of HTLV-1 in samples stored at the Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Germany.Methods: a total of 406 paraffined biopsies and/or blood samples from patients with different cancer diagnosis stored in the Pathology Department at Freiburg Uniklinik, Germany during the period 2008-2012 were selected and analyzed. To set up the n-PCR conditions, a chronically infected cell line (MT2), and 6 samples conserved at INBIRS Institute in Argentina were used: 2 healthy individuals, 4 samples from HTLV-1 positive individuals (1 asymptomatic l, 1 ATLL and 2 HAM/TSP).Results: The prevalence of HTLV-1 among the 406 oncology patients studied was 0,25% (1/406). The sample corresponded to a patient diagnosed with a T-cell lymphoma in 2011 (BE 24250/11). Ethnic and risk factors background were not available.Conclusions: This result confirms the presence of HTLV-1 and its associated pathologies in a non-endemic area of Europe. As the sample size was not significant, a large study should be conducted in order to widen the knowledge on this infection in Germany.