Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
HTLV-1 is a retrovirus that causes lymphoproliferative disorders and inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the central nervous system in humans. The prevalence of this infection is high in parts of Brazil and there is a general lack of public health care programs. As a consequence, official data on the transmission routes of this virus are scarce.Objective
To demonstrate familial aggregation of HTLV infections in the metropolitan region of Belém, Pará, Brazil.Method
A cross-sectional study involving 85 HTLV carriers treated at an outpatient clinic and other family members. The subjects were tested by ELISA and molecular methods between February 2007 and December 2010.Results
The prevalence of HTLV was 43.5% (37/85) for families and 25.6% (58/227) for the family members tested (95% CI: 1.33 to 3.79, P?=?0.0033). Sexual and vertical transmission was likely in 38.3% (23/60) and 20.4% (29/142) of pairs, respectively (95% CI: 1.25 to 4.69, P?=?0.0130). Positivity was 51.3% (20/39) and 14.3% (3/21) in wives and husbands, respectively (95% CI: 0.04 to 0.63, P?=?0.0057). By age group, seropositivity was 8.0% (7/88) in subjects <30 years of age and 36.7% (51/139) in those of over 30 years (95% CI: 0.06 to 0.34, P<0.0001). Positivity was 24.1% (7/29) in the children of patients infected with HTLV-2, as against only 5.8% (4/69) of those infected with HTLV-1 (95% CI: 0.05 to 0.72, P?=?0.0143).Conclusion
The results of this study indicate the existence of familial aggregations of HTLV characterized by a higher prevalence of infection among wives and subjects older than 30 years. Horizontal transmission between spouses was more frequent than vertical transmission. The higher rate of infection in children of HTLV-2 carriers suggests an increase in the prevalence of this virus type in the metropolitan region of Belém.
SUBMITTER: da Costa CA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3681619 | biostudies-literature | 2013
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
da Costa Carlos Araujo CA Furtado Karen Cristini Yumi Ogawa KC Ferreira Louise de Souza Canto Lde S Almeida Danilo de Souza Dde S Linhares Alexandre da Costa Ada C Ishak Ricardo R Vallinoto Antonio Carlos Rosário AC de Lemos José Alexandre Rodrigues JA Martins Luisa Caricio LC Ishikawa Edna Aoba Yassui EA de Sousa Rita Catarina Medeiros RC de Sousa Maísa Silva MS
PLoS neglected tropical diseases 20130613 6
<h4>Background</h4>HTLV-1 is a retrovirus that causes lymphoproliferative disorders and inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the central nervous system in humans. The prevalence of this infection is high in parts of Brazil and there is a general lack of public health care programs. As a consequence, official data on the transmission routes of this virus are scarce.<h4>Objective</h4>To demonstrate familial aggregation of HTLV infections in the metropolitan region of Belém, Pará, Brazil.<h4>M ...[more]