Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infection among pregnant women in northeastern Brazil.
An evaluation of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection among 6754 pregnant women in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot analysis, and polymerase chain reaction assay found a rate of infection of 0.84% (57 of 6754 women). Epidemiologic and obstetric data on the HTLV-1-positive pregnant women were analyzed and compared with data on a control group of HTLV-1-negative pregnant women. The mean age of the HTLV-1-positive women was 26.2 years. All were seronegative for HIV and syphilis, and only 2 reported a past history of sexually transmitted infection and more than 10 sexual partners. Of the HTLV-1-positive women, 88.5% were breast-fed, 4% were bottle fed, and 7.5% did not know. Six women had received blood transfusions, and only 1 reported intravenous drug use. Fifty-two HTLV-1-positive women could be followed: 45 had full-term deliveries, 5 had premature deliveries, and 2 had abortions. Our results indicate that (1) the frequency of HTLV-1 infection among pregnant women is relatively high in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; (2) maternal infection was probably acquired more frequently through breast-feeding, but the sexual route was certainly the second most important means of transmission; (3) HTLV-1-positive women had a history of eczema-like infections in childhood more frequently than the control group; (4) HTLV-1 infection did not interfere in the course of pregnancy; and (5) no associated congenital infections were observed in the HTLV-1-positive women.
Bittencourt
A L
AL
Department of Pathology and Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil. achilea@uol.com.br
Dourado
I
I
Filho
P B
PB
Santos
M
M
Valadão
E
E
Alcantara
L C
LC
Galvão-Castro
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015995:Prevalence
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies