Incidence of HTLV-I in high-risk population in Delhi

Human infection due to HTLV-I occurs by transmission of infected T-cells via sexual intercourse, blood transfusion or breastfeeding. The present investigation was carried out to find the incidence of HTLV-I in high risk population and its relationship with syphilis and HIV infection. The study group comprised 124 antenatal cases, 9 patients attending Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) clinics and 144 blood donors. Passive particle agglutination test was performed on all the test sera for anti HTLV-I antibodies. VDRL and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination tests were carried out on sera from antenatal and STD cases. Sera from blood donors were tested for HIV antibodies by ELISA and confirmed by Western Blot. Anti HTLV-I antibodies were found in 10.6% of the cases studied. There was no association between the presence of anti HTLV-I antibodies and syphilis in expectant mothers and STD cases. However, significant association was found between the former and HIV infection in blood donors.