Increased prevalence of HTLV-1 among HIV-2-infected women but not HIV-2-infected men in rural Guinea-Bissau.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of HTLV infection and its association with HIV and other potential risk factors.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey and a case-control study in a rural community in Guinea-Bissau.


METHODS
A total of 2770 people were included in an HIV and HTLV seroepidemiologic survey. Three hundred of these participants were selected for a case-control study on HIV-2. Sera from both studies were tested for HTLV.


RESULTS
In all, 2501 and 298 subjects in the survey and case-control study, respectively, were tested for HTLV. Overall HTLV-1 prevalence was 5.2% and it was higher in women (odds ratio [OR], 1.36; confidence interval [CI], 0.92-2.02). Apart from an infected spouse, no significant risk factors could be identified for men. In women, HIV-2 infection (adjusted OR, 5.58; CI, 3.09-10.1), having an infected spouse, and area of residence were significantly associated with HTLV-1 infection. The association between HTLV-1 and HIV-2 was significantly different for men and women (test of interaction, p =.002).


CONCLUSIONS
In women, the most important determinant of HTLV-1 seropositivity was HIV-2 infection. Because the pattern was significantly different for men and women, common sexual risk factors may not be sufficient to explain the co-occurrence of HIV-2 and HTLV-1 in women. These observations may have implications in geographic areas where both types of retroviruses are prevalent.
Bandim Health Project, Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. bhx@ssi.dk
Birgitta
B
Holmgren
Sören
S
Andersson
Elizabeth
E
Harding
Maarten
M
Schim van der Loeff
Pernille
P
Vastrup
Peter
P
Aaby
Koya
K
Ariyoshi
Hilton
H
Whittle
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006169:Guinea-Bissau; D015498:HIV-2; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health; D012737:Sex Factors