Epidemiological analysis of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 infection among different population in Central China

• Published in: PloS one 2013-06, Vol.8 (6), p.e66795-e66795
• Main Authors: Ma, Yunyun, Zheng, Shangen, Wang, Na, Duan, Yu, Sun, Xinyu, Jin, Jing, Zang, Wenqiao, Li, Min, Wang, Yuanyuan, Zhao, Guoqiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Antibodies; Biology; Blood; Blood & organ donations; Blood transfusion; Blood transfusions; Child; Child, Preschool; China - epidemiology; Coastal zone; Enzyme immunoassay; Epidemiology; Etiology; Female; Health risks; Hematological diseases; Hematology; Hepatitis; HIV; HTLV-I Infections - epidemiology; HTLV-II Infections - epidemiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - pathogenicity; Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 - pathogenicity; Humans; Immunoassay; Immunology; Infections; Intravenous administration; Laboratories; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Male; Medicine; Population; Risk factors; Sex Distribution; Sexual behavior; Sexual intercourse; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Transfusion; Viruses; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066795

HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 are retroviruses linked etiologically to various human diseases, and both of them can be transmitted by vertical route, sexual intercourse, blood transfusion and intravenous drug use. Recently, some HTLV-infected cases have been reported and this virus is mainly present in the Southeast coastal areas in China, but has not been studied for the people in Central China. To know the epidemiologic patterns among different population samples in Central China and further identify risk factor for HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 infection. From January 2008 to December 2011, 5480 blood samples were screened for HTLV-1/2 antibodies by using enzyme immunoassay, followed by Western Blot. The prevalence of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 was found with infection rates 0.13% and 0.05% among all population samples for HTLV-1 and HTLV-2, respectively. The highest percentages of infection, 0.39% and 0.20%, were found in the high risk group, while only 0.06% and 0.03% in the blood donor group. There was only one case of HTLV-1 infection (0.11%) among patients with malignant hematological diseases. Of seven HTLV-1 positive cases, six were co-infected with HBV, two with HCV and one with HIV. Among three HTLV-2 positive individuals all were co-infected with HBV, one with HCV. HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 have been detected in the Central China at low prevalence, with the higher infection rate among high risk group. It was also found that co-infection of HTLV-1/2 with HIV and HBV occurred, presumably due to their similar transmission routes. HTLV-1/2 antibody screen among certain population would be important to prevent the spread of the viruses.