Risk factors for HTLV-II infection in Peruvian men who have sex with men.
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-II (HTLV-II) infection is endemic in indigenous groups in the Americas and injection drug users (IDUs) worldwide. In Peru, HTLV-II infection was previously identified in two indigenous Amazonians. We examined risk factors for HTLV-II infection in 2,703 Peruvian men who have sex with men (MSM): 35 (1.3%) were HTLV-II positive. HTLV-II infection was associated with syphilis, HSV-2 infection, unprotected receptive anal intercourse, and older age. This is the first report of HTLV-II in a non-indigenous non-IDU population in Peru. Additional studies are needed to determine if HTLV-II is a sexually transmitted infection in this and other sexually active populations.
Zunt
Joseph R
JR
Department of Neurology, Center for AIDS and STD, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA. jzunt@u.washington.edu
La Rosa
Alberto M
AM
Peinado
Jesús
J
Lama
Javier R
JR
Suarez
Luis
L
Pun
Monica
M
Cabezas
Cesar
C
Sanchez
Jorge
J