title: Evaluation of HTLV-I/II infection in blood donors in Buenos Aires.
abstract: HTLV-I and HTLV-II are two related retroviruses that are transmitted by sexual contact, breast feeding, blood transfusion and needle sharing. In this study the prevalence of HTLV-I and HTLV-II was evaluated in voluntary blood donors as a measure of the infection in the general population. Samples were tested by a gelatine particle agglutination test and repeatedly reactive samples were confirmed by Western blot tests (WBT), enriched with recombinant rgp21, rgp461 y rgp4611 proteins, which differentiates HTLV-I and HTLV-II antibodies. Of 19,426 samples, 40 were repeatedly reactive by particle agglutination (0.21%). When analyzed by WBT, 6 met the criteria for HTLV-I (0.036%), 2 for HTLV-II (0.01%) and 1 for HTLV-I/II, 13 samples were indeterminate and 18 were negative. The prevalence is low and comparable to that from non endemic countries. Screening for anti HTLV-I/II antibodies is necessary to prevent transmission through blood transfusions.
authors.affiliation: División Laboratorio Análisis Clínicos, Instituto de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular, Buenos Aires.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gutfraind
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Blejer
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Saguier
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gómez Carretero
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Pirola
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Carreras Vescio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000379:methods; D001118:Argentina; D001782:Blood Donors; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000635:transmission*; 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
chemical_list: D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies