Seroprevalence and risk factors for human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I) infection among ethnically and geographically diverse Peruvian women.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the seroprevalence and risk factors for HTLV-I infection in Peruvian women.


METHODS
Five hundred and sixty-eight healthy women >20 years of age from three Peruvian regions were randomly selected and screened for HTLV-I. ELISA-reactive sera were confirmed via immunofluorescence assay, recombinant immunoblot assay, Western blot, and PCR. Women from Huanta (n=303), an Andean city inhabited by indigenous Quechuans, El Carmen (n=132), a primarily African-American coastal town, and Lima (n=133), with its Mestizo population, were selected.


RESULTS
HTLV-I antibodies were present in 2.5% (14/568) of women (1.3% in Huanta, 3.8% in El Carmen, and 3.8% in Lima); 2.5%, 2.7% and 2.6% of Quechuans, Mestizas and African-Americans, respectively, were infected. History of a blood transfusion (P <0.00002), chronic scabies (P <0.02), having a relative with leukemia (P <0.04), age +/- 38 years (P <0.03), young age at first intercourse (P <0.04), lifetime partners >4 (P <0.04), educational status (P <0.02) and >4 pregnancies (P <0.03) were significantly associated with infection.


CONCLUSIONS
HTLV-I is endemic among asymptomatic Peruvian women. Parenteral, vertical and heterosexual transmission are associated with infection.
Sanchez-Palacios
C
C
Deparment of Dermatology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA.
Gotuzzo
E
E
Vandamme
A-M
AM
Maldonado
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012532:Scabies / Q000150:complications; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors