Infectious states of human T lymphotropic virus type I and hepatitis B virus among Japanese immigrants in the Republic of Bolivia.
Serologic tests for human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and hepatitis B virus infections were conducted in 1986 in two Japanese immigrant colonies located in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. A total of 322 adults (283 Japanese and 39 Bolivians) over age 35 years and 305 children (166 Japanese, 124 Bolivians, and 15 of mixed blood) aged 8-17 years were sampled at the time of a routine health checkup. The prevalence of antibody to HTLV-I was 17% in first-generation Japanese immigrants and 6% in second- or third-generation Japanese children. Prevalences among native Bolivians were 3% and 5% in adults and children, respectively. Seropositive Japanese immigrants and mothers showed clustering according to birthplace in endemic areas of Japan. The prevalence of either hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) or antibody to HBsAg was 48% in Japanese adults, 21% in Japanese children, 13% in Bolivian adults, and 1% in Bolivian children. Seropositive adults did not show clustering according to birthplace, but children in one colony showed clustering and a narrow age range. A correlation of seropositivity between husbands and wives was found only for HTLV-I. The seropositivity was independent of whether an HTLV-I or a hepatitis B virus infection marker was present.
Tsugane
S
S
Epidemiology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
Watanabe
S
S
Sugimura
H
H
Otsu
T
T
Tobinai
K
K
Shimoyama
M
M
Nanri
S
S
Ishii
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001838:Bolivia; D002648:Child; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors
D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens