title: Seroincidence of human T-lymphotropic virus type I infection and characterization of seroconverters in Jamaican food handlers.
abstract: In a prospective study of food handlers in Jamaica, we estimated the age- and sex-specific seroincidence of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection. Of 682 sexually active adults (132 males and 550 females) who were initially seronegative, 12 (1 male and 11 females) seroconverted over 8 years of follow-up. The seroincidence was 1.2 per 1,000 person-years for males and 3.2 per 1,000 person-years for females. The age-standardized incidence was 1.8 times higher for females than for males (P = 0.55). Within a median of 4 years after seroconversion, the median HTLV-I provirus load was 500 copies/105 cells, and the median antibody titer was 1:3109. Four of 12 seroconverters developed antibody to the Tax regulatory protein. HTLV-I infection in this population occurred at a rate comparable with that described for a Japanese cohort. Provirus load, titer and appearance of antibody to the Tax regulatory protein were typical of chronic carriers within a few years of seroconversion.
authors.affiliation: The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: VanVeldhuisen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Rainford
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilks
authors.forename: Barrie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hanchard
authors.forename: Michie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hisada
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019649:Food Industry; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers