Serologic and molecular typing of human T-lymphotropic virus among blood donors in Maputo City, Mozambique

Authors: Gudo, Eduardo Samo; Abreu, Celina M.; Mussá, Tufária; do Rosário Augusto, Ângelo; Otsuki, Koko; Chambo, Evelina; Amade, Nádia; Tanuri, Amílcar; Ferreira Jr, Orlando C.; Jani, Ilesh V.

Source: Transfusion, Volume 49, Number 6, June 2009 , pp. 1146-1150(5)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND:

Screening for human T-lymphotropic virus-1/2 (HTLV-1/2) infection is not performed in blood banks in Mozambique. The aim was to determine the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 among blood donors of the Maputo Central Hospital Blood Bank and measure the coinfection rate of HTLV-1/2 with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and syphilis. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:

A total of 2019 consecutive blood donors were screened for HTLV-1/2 antibodies, HIV-1/2 antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) for syphilis. Specimens reactive on a first HTLV-1/2 enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were retested using a second EIA. Specimens that were dually reactive on both EIAs were further tested using Western blot (WB) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS:

All 18 dually reactive specimens (0.89%; 95% confidence interval, 0.48%-1.30%) were positive for the presence of HTLV-1 by WB and real-time PCR. HTLV-2 was not detected. The prevalences of anti-HIV, HBsAg, and reactivity in the RPR test were 5.72, 6.01, and 0.98 percent, respectively. There was no significant association between HTLV-1 infection and demographic variables (age and sex) or serologic markers (HIV, HBsAg, and RPR). For the 17 HTLV-1-positive donors for whom serologic data for HIV, HBsAg, and syphilis RPR were available, 2 showed coinfection with HIV and 1 with HBV. CONCLUSION:

Compared to other infectious agents, HTLV-1 is present at relatively low levels among blood donors in Mozambique. Cost and logistics will present as major challenges for introducing HTLV-1/2 screening in blood banks. In blood banks in Southern Africa where EIA testing is possible, a sequential algorithm of two EIAs may be a cost-efficient option for HTLV-1/2 screening.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1537-2995.2009.02100.x

Publication date: 2009-06-01

Serologic and molecular typing of human T-lymphotropic virus among blood donors in Maputo City, Mozambique

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