[Sero-epidemiological study on the human T-cell leukaemia virus type I/II infection in the east coastal areas of Fujian province].
OBJECTIVE
To study the seroprevalence of human T-cell leukaemia virus type I/II (HTLV-I/II) infection in adult population in the east coastal areas of Fujian and to explore the possible risk factors of HTLV-I/II.


METHODS
A total number of 3259 blood samples from drug users, sexually transmitted disease (STD) patients, prostitutes and blood donors for serologic assays during 1999 to 2002, were collected. All samples were screened for HTLV-I/II antibody, using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. All of the positive samples were confirmed by western blot (WB) kits. Statistical analysis was done by Epi software, and chi(2) test by Fisher's exact test. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
The overall seroprevalence rate of HTLV-I/II in healthy populations was 0.06% including, 0.32% in drug users, 0.58% in STD patients and prostitutes respectively. HTLV-II had not been found. The seropositive rates for HTLV-I in STD patients and prostitutes were significantly higher than the findings among healthy populations (P < 0.05). There were no different seroprevalence rates between drug users and healthy populations (P > 0.05). No significant changes in HTLV-I prevalence rates were found in the different age groups as well as in Fuzhou and Linde cities (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The result suggested that in the east coastal areas of Fujian province, HTLV-I was the main prevalent virus. The seroprevalence of HTLV-I was very low, with no HTLV-II. Neither age nor gender seemed to be HTLV-I risk factor in the east coastal areas of Fujian province, but the increase of exposure to sex might be one.
Wang
Hui-rong
HR
Fujian Province Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fuzhou 350001, China.
Yan
Yan-sheng
YS
Zhang
Qiu-wen
QW
Zheng
Jian
J
Liu
Jian-ming
JM
Feng
You-yu
YY
Wu
Shan-qun
SQ
Wu
Jiang-hong
JH
D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015486:HTLV-I Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015487:HTLV-II Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D015486:HTLV-I Antigens; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies; D015487:HTLV-II Antigens