Prevalence of antibodies to human T-lymphotropic viruses types I and II among healthy blood donors

To assess the prevalence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I and type II antibodies in blood donors donating blood for various reasons in a University hospital and to compare the results with other reports from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA], and elsewhere. A 7-year retrospective review of blood bank records for results of serological tests at the King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, KSA, from January 1995 to December 2001 was conducted. The study included review of blood donor questionnaire cards as well as extraction of any other relevant information. The results showed that the total number of blood donor units drawn during the 7- year period was 23493 units. A total of 50 units were found repeatedly reactive by enzyme immunoassay screening test [0.2%]. Only 12 [0.05%] were confirmed reactive by western blot test and 4 were found to be indeterminate. Nine [0.04%] of the confirmed samples were from Saudi nationals. All 3 non-Saudi confirmed reactive donors were Indian nationals, while the 4 indeterminate cases, 2 were Saudis and 2 were Egyptians. A statistical estimate of the maximal risk of finding a positive donor in this donor population subgroup is in the order of 0.05%. The number of Saudi blood donors during this study was 16434 [80.3%] and non-Saudi donors was 4027 [19.7%]. Based on these results it is shown that the prevalence of this virus is still low among blood donors in the Eastern region of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Evaluación de una técnica de enzimoinmunoensayo para detección de anticuerpos anti-HTLV-I / Anti HTLV-EIA screening test assessment

El HTLV-I y el HTLV-II son virus cuya transmisión ocurre de madre a hijo, por contacto sexual y por transfusiones de sangre o por compartir agujas contaminadas. El HTLV-I está asociado al menos con dos enfermedades, la leucemia-linfoma T del adulto y la parapesia espástica tropical. Con el fin de prevenir la transmisión por vía transfusional en varios países se testean las donaciones de sangre para Ac anti-HTLV-I. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo la evaluación de un nuevo test de enzimoinmunoensayo para detección de Ac anti HTLV-I (Abbott HTLV-I 2.0 EIA, USA) utilizando muestras repetidamente reactivas por la prueba de AP y positivas, indeterminadas o negativas por WB. Se utilizaron 63 sueros obtenidos de donantes voluntarios vinculares de sangre. Treinta fueron negativos por WB, 13 reactivos para HTLV-I, 2 reactivos para HTLV-II, uno para HTLV-I/II y 17 indeterminados. Todas las muestras positivas por WB también lo fueron por EIE; en cuanto a las negativas por la técnica confirmatoria, el 13 por ciento fue reactivo por EIE. Por último, de los sueros indeterminados, el 53 por ciento fue positivo por EIE. La técnica del EIE resultó tener muy buena sensibilidad y podría constituir una alternativa útil en el caso de no disponer momentáneamente de reactivos para realizar la confirmación. Según lo observado en nuestra experiencia, un resultado positivo por EIE para una muestra repetidamente reactiva por AP indica con alta probabilidad que están presentes Ac anti-HTLV y viceversa.

HTLV-I/II as a common etiology of myelopathies in Bahia, Brazil

Infection by human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV-I) is associated with a myelopathy known as tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP). The prevalence of HTLV-I infection was found to be high in a pilot study in Bahia, Brazil. In the present study, among patients with myleopathy of unclear etiology, 27 per cent (17/62) were immunoblot reactive to HTLV-I/II (serum and CSF), but none of 40 consecutive patients seen at the neurological clinic and having a well-established neurological diagnosis had detectable antibodies against those viruses (discrimination between HTLV-I and HTLV-II was not possible with the tests we used). The clinical syndrome of typical TSP with upper limb hyperreflexia was found to be a significant feature among the HTLV-I/II-seropositive patients compared to seronegative individuals. The 17 HTLV-I/II-reactive individuals had negative tests for syphilis, toxoplasmosis and schistosomiasis. TSP was also associated with female gender (P=0.001). We conclude that TSP is strongly associated with HTLV-I/II infection in women in Bahia.

Evaluation of HTLV-I/II infection in blood donors in Buenos Aires

HTLV-I and HTLV-II are two related retroviruses that are transmitted by sexual contact, breast feeding, blood transfusion and needle sharing. In this study the prevalence of HTLV-I and HTLV-II was evaluated in voluntary blood donors as a measure of the infection in the general population. Samples were tested by a gelatine particle agglutination test and repeatedly reactive samples were confirmed by Western blot tests (WBT), enriched with recombinant rgp21, rgp46I y rgp46II proteins, which differentiates HTLV-I and HTLV-II antibodies. Of 19,426 samples, 40 were repeatedly reactive by particle agglutination (0.21 percent). When analyzed by WBT, 6 met the criteria for HTLV-I (0.036 percent), 2 for HTLV-II (0.01 percent) and 1 for HTLV-I/II, 13 samples were indeterminate and 18 were negative. The prevalence is low and comparable to that from non endemic countries. Screening for anti HTLV-I/II antibodies is necessary to prevent transmission through blood transfusions.

Anticuerpos anti-virus linfotrópicos de células T humanas en sujetos de alto riesgo para la infección por VIH en Monterrey / Anti-HTLV-1/2 antibodies in a population of high risk for HIV infection in Monterrey, Mexico

El VIH es el agente etiológico del síndrome de la inmunodeficiencia adquirida o SIDA y el HTLV-1 se ha asociado a la leucemia/linfoma de las células T de adultos y a la paraparesis espástica tropical. En México existe poca información sobre la incidencia de la infección por HTLV-1. En el presente trabajo buscamos la presencia de anticuerpos dirigidos contra HTLV-1 en 100 sueros de pacientes de alto riesgo para la infección por VIH, del área de Monterrey, N. L. En 93 sueros se detectaron anticuerpos anti VIH y dos dieron resultados indeterminados por inmunoelectrotransferencia. Tres sueros VIH positivos dieron también positiva la prueba de aglutinación para HTLV-1; sin embargo, en la prueba confirmatoria de inmunoelectrotransferencia, las tres muestras resultaron negativas para HTLV-1