Is seroprevalence of HTLV-I/II among blood donors in Lebanon relevant?
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is associated with certain hematologic and neurologic disorders. Seroprevalence studies demonstrated that the distribution of HTLV-I is heterogeneous worldwide and not specific to 1 region. Because blood is one of the major routes of transmission of the virus, blood banks of several countries routinely screen all blood donations for HTLV-I. The aim of the present study was to assess the seroprevalence rate of HTLV-I/II antibodies among Lebanese blood donors. Between August 2001 and March 2002, consecutive blood samples of 3529 blood donors were collected at blood banks of 4 major hospitals in Lebanon. Initial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening resulted in 23 (0.7%) positive samples, of which 12 (0.3%) were reconfirmed positive by ELISA. Further analysis by Western blot resulted in 2 (0.06%) positive samples, of which 1 tested positive for HTLV-I by PCR (0.028%). Although its very low prevalence among Lebanese blood donors does not support routine screening of Lebanese blood donors for HTLV-I, screening of blood donors from other nationalities may be exercised, especially those from HTLV-I endemic areas.
Tamim
Hala
H
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Musharrafieh
Umayya
U
Ramia
Sami
S
Almawi
Wassim Y
WY
Al-Jisr
Tamima
T
Ayoub
Tanios
T
Nabulsi-Majzoub
Malak
M
Kazma
Hassan
H
Baz
Elizabeth Kfoury
EK
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001771:Blood Banks; D001782:Blood Donors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012698:Serologic Tests; D017678:Sex Distribution
D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies