title: Prevalence of antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) in an HIV-endemic region of Africa.
abstract: Serum samples from 267 healthy subjects and patients either infected or not infected with HIV-1 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot techniques for evidence of HTLV-1 infection. Specific antibodies were detected in only 1% of the sera. Positive sera were likely to be from individuals infected with HIV-1. Tanzania and probably the other East African countries are non-endemic for HTLV-1. Prevalences are too low to provide justification for screening of blood donations. However, screening of donor blood for HIV-1 will limit transmission of HTLV-1 by this route as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili Medical Centre, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Maselle
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haukenes
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies