title: Demographic factors associated with HTLV-1 infection in a Gabonese community.
abstract: An epidemiological study of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and syphilis has been carried out in a multiethnic community of seven neighbouring villages located in eastern Gabon on 1240 subjects over 5 years old (82.7% of the population in this age range). Antibodies to HTLV-1 (anti-HTLV-1) were detected by ELISA with confirmation by Western Blot and antibodies to syphilis by Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory assay with confirmation by the Treponema pallidum haemaglutination assay. The prevalence rate of anti-HTLV-1 was 8.5% and increased from 3.7% in the 5-14 years age group to 23.8% in the over 60 years age group. Logistic regression showed that the positivity for anti-HTLV-1 was associated with age, ethnic group and sex (higher prevalence in females). The seroprevalence rate of syphilis was 8.2%. Seropositivity for syphilis and HTLV-1 were related but age was a confounding variable in this relationship. This study showing a highly heterogeneous distribution of HTLV-1 in a geographically limited area suggests the role of environmental and behavioural factors in HTLV-1 transmission.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U13 et Fondation Léon M'ba, Hôpital Claude Bernard, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Le Hesran
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delaporte
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaudebout
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trebuck
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schrijvers
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Josse
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheringou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Larouze
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005681:Gabon / Q000453:epidemiology; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission