A seroepidemiological survey of antibodies to HTLV-I/HTLV-II in selected population groups in Paraguay.

Between March 1987 and November 1989 a cross-sectional serological survey was conducted on 884 residents of Paraguay to obtain data on the prevalence of antibodies to human T-cell leukemia virus type I/II (HTLV-I/II). Sera from 8/884 individuals (0.9%) were positive, confirmed by Western blotting and radioimmunoprecipitation (RIPA). This study shows that HTLV-I/II is very rare (or absent) among the general (healthy) population (0/338) and ethnic Japanese (0/227) in Paraguay. However, it can be detected at a rate of 2-3% in prostitutes (4/178) and homosexuals (4/117), suggesting sexual transmission as an important route for spread of HTLV-I/II in Paraguay.