title: Co-infection by the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus in Yucatan, Mexico.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The HTLV-II infection has been reported in patients with HIV infection as often in asymptomatic as those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HTLV-II infection in a group of patients infected by HIV in our region, as well as determining the risk factors associated with HTLV-II transmission in this group of patients and its impact on the clinical course of HIV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of co-infection of HIV-1 and HTLV-II among 192 patients from Yucatán, México. Serum specimens were tested for HTLV antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Positive results were confirmed and typed by Western blot. Twenty four (12.5%) patients were confirmed with antibodies for HTLV-II, but none had antibodies for HTLV-I. Specific risk factors for HTLV-II transmission were not identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Candidiasis (42 vs. 12%, p = 0.0004) and more than two defining entities of AIDS (37 vs. 18%, p = 0.02) was observed with greater prevalence in the group co-infected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, a higher frequency of candidiasis and a larger number of AIDS-defining pathologies were observed in the co-infected patients, suggesting that co-infection is associated with greater immunodeficiency.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hematology, Regional Research Center Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, The Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. castros@tunku.uady.mx
authors.forename: Carlos José
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Castro-Sansores
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos-Rivero
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: González-Martínez
authors.forename: Dora M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lara-Perera
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alonso-Salomon
authors.forename: Renan A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gongora-Biachi
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged