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Human T-lymphotropic virus type II in Panamanian Guaymi Indians
F Feigenbaum1, C Fang, S G Sandler
1Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
Background:
Currently, human T-lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) is the most prevalent human retrovirus, detected in persons presenting to donate blood in the United States. Only scant information is available with which to counsel HTLV-II-seropositive deferred donors or other persons about the ways in which they may spread HTLV-II to others.
Study Design And Methods:
To increase understanding of the modes of transmission of HTLV-II, a seroepidemiologic study was conducted among Panamanian Guaymi Indians, a recently identified focus of endemic HTLV-II infection. Subjects were tested for serologic evidence of infection by HTLV-II, HTLV type I, hepatitis B virus, and nine other infectious agents by enzyme immunoassays and specific confirmatory tests.
Results:
Nine (8.3%) of 109 persons tested HTLV-II-seropositive. HTLV-II seropositivity was more likely in persons with serologic evidence of prior hepatitis B virus infection. Sexual contact with HTLV-II-seropositive partners, but neither parenteral exposure nor breast-feeding, was identified as a risk factor for HTLV-II.
Conclusion:
In Guaymi Indians, HTLV-II appears to be spread primarily through sexual transmission.