Hospital-based surveillance for HTLV-1/2 infections in Spain.
In Western countries, HTLV-1 infection is recognized mainly among foreigners coming from endemic areas. In contrast, HTLV-2 is found predominantly in native intravenous drug users (IDUs). Spain has experienced a large wave of immigration, which could have influenced the current prevalence and distribution of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 infection. A 1-day cross-sectional survey was carried out in May 2005 in 13 hospitals distributed across Spain. A total of 2873 outpatient subjects were screened for HTLV-1/2 antibodies. Although the majority of the study population consisted of native Spaniards, 206 (7.2%) were immigrants. Two cases of HTLV-1 and one of HTLV-2 infection were found (overall prevalence, 0.1%). The two individuals with HTLV-1 were immigrants from endemic areas and the single case of HTLV-2 infection was a former Spaniard IDU coinfected with HIV-1. In summary, the current prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection in Spain is low, with no evidence of spread beyond the classical risk groups. However, a rapidly growing population of immigrants from HTLV-1-endemic areas in Spain could modify this pattern and periodic surveillance studies including both natives and immigrants are warranted.
Toro
Carlos
C
Service of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
Aguilera
Antonio
A
Caballero
Estrella
E
Tuset
Concepción
C
Alvarez
Patricia
P
García-Campello
Marta
M
Rodríguez-Iglesias
Manuel
M
de Lejarazu
Raúl Ortiz
RO
Eiros
José
J
Rodriguez
Carmen
C
del Romero
Jorge
J
Benito
Rafael
R
Calderón
Enrique
E
Santana
Otilia
O
Amor
Aránzazu
A
Gómez-Hernando
César
C
García
Juan
J
Soriano
Vincent
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006761:Hospitals; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies