title: Cervical shedding of human T cell lymphotropic virus type I is associated with cervicitis.
abstract: Human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is sexually transmitted. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for cervical shedding of HTLV-I DNA among Peruvian sex workers. HTLV tax DNA was detected in cervical specimens from 43 (68%) of 63 HTLV-I-infected sex workers and in samples obtained during 113 (52%) of 216 clinic visits between 1993 and 1997. Detection of HTLV DNA was associated with the presence of > or =30 polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) within cervical mucus per 100x microscopic field (odds ratio [OR], 4.3, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8-10.1) and with the presence of cervical secretions (OR, 2.0; 95% CI 1.2-3.4). Hormonal contraceptive use (OR 1.7; 95% CI, 0.8-3.6) and concomitant cervical infection by Chlamydia trachomatis (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.3-4.3) or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.6-3.7) were not significantly associated with HTLV-I shedding. Our results suggest that cervicitis may increase cervical HTLV-I shedding and the sexual transmission of this virus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98104, USA. jzunt@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Zunt
authors.forename: Charlene S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Dezzutti
authors.forename: Silvia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Montano
authors.forename: Katherine K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Jorge O V
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Alarcón
authors.forename: Eberth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quijano
authors.forename: Barry N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Courtois
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gotuzzo
authors.forename: Patricia C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Guenthner
authors.forename: Renu B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Lal
authors.forename: King K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000821:virology*; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies