HTLV-I in Northeast Brazil: differences for male and female injecting drug users

To investigate the seroprevalence of HTLV-I infection among male and female injecting drug users (IDUs).

A cross-sectional study conducted in Salvador, Brazil, from 1994 to 1996 (Projeto Brasil-Salvador). The study population of 216 asymptomatic IDUs was selected using snowball contact technique. Data on demographics, sexual behavior, and drug use practices were obtained and blood samples collected for serologic assays. Sera were screened for HIV-1/2 and HTLV-I and HTLV-II antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmed by Western blot.

The overall prevalence of HTLV-I/II was 35.2% (76 of 216). The seroprevalence of HTLV-I, HTLV-II, and HIV-1 was for males 22.0%, 11.3%, and 44.1%, and for females 46.2%, 10.3%, and 74.4%, respectively. Specific seroprevalence of HTLV-I infection demonstrated linear trend with increasing age and increasing duration of drug use. Using univariate analysis, the variables that were significantly associated with HTLV-I infection among males included needle sharing practices, duration of IDU, HIV-1 seropositivity, and positive test result for syphilis. Among women, duration of injecting drug use and positive test result for syphilis were strongly associated with HTLV-I infection.

Retrovirus infection is highly prevalent among IDUs in Salvador, Brazil and HTLV-I is more common that HTLV-II. Duration of drug use is an important correlate of HTLV-I infection.