Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infection and tropical spastic paraparesis in Belgian expatriates.
A case of HTLV-1 associated tropical spastic paraparesis is described in a Belgian nun who had been working as a midwife in Central Africa. Occupational exposure was the only risk factor identified. Among 2,482 Belgian expatriates in tropical countries, 92% of whom had resided in sub-Saharan Africa for an average of 15.5 years, only one Belgian-born man was found seropositive for HTLV-1. He was married to an African woman and living in Central Africa for 23 years. The risk of HTLV-1 infection is low in Belgian expatriates and on its own does not support generalised anti-HTLV screening in autochthonous Belgian blood donors.
Goubau
P
P
Department of Microbiology, Rega Institute, University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium.
Carton
H
H
Cornet
P
P
Vercauteren
G
G
Van Gompel
A
A
De Vooght
H
H
Piot
P
P
Desmyter
J
J
D001530:Belgium / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors