Epidemiology of human T cell leukemia virus type I infection in East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea.
A serological survey of 317 healthy residents of rural Papua New Guinea (PNG) showed a 26% prevalence of antibodies to human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I). Antibody to HTLV-I was detected in 16% of children less than or equal to 10 years old (including an 18-month-old child) and increased to greater than or equal to 24% in subjects greater than 20 years old. Prospective examination for antibody in 104 residents of one village revealed a seroconversion rate of 13% over a one-year period. The mean titer of antibody in these subjects (1:183) was lower (P less than .0005) than that in persons who were persistently seropositive (1:718). Analysis for clustering of infected subjects suggested that personal contact within the home played a role in the horizontal spread of HTLV-I. These data indicate that HTLV-I infection has a higher prevalence in PNG than in other endemic parts of the world, exposure occurs at an early age, and infection and/or seroconversion is common in adults as well as in children.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005368:Filariasis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013029:Space-Time Clustering
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies