HTLV infections among Swedish intravenous drug users in 1992.
Serum samples collected in 1992 from 1158 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in Stockholm, Sweden, were tested retrospectively for antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus type I and II (HTLV-I and II). The overall prevalence rate of HTLV infections was 2.4% (28/1158). A majority of the HTLV infections were caused by HTLV-II (27/28). A significant association between HTLV-II and HIV-1 seropositivity was found, the prevalence of HTLV-II infection being 11.4% (11/96) in HIV-seropositive individuals compared with 1.5% (16/1062) in HIV-seronegative persons (p < 0.001). All the HTLV-infected individuals were of Scandinavian origin. No significant differences in age and sex distribution were observed in HTLV-infected persons compared to seronegative individuals. This study confirms that HTLV-II infection is present in the Swedish IVDU population and the findings provide baseline information for future epidemiological studies.
Andersson
S
S
Department of Immunology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Krook
A
A
Käll
K
K
Julander
I
I
Thorstensson
R
R
Biberfeld
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology