Serological patterns and temporal trends of HTLV-1/2 infection in high-risk populations attending Public Health Units in São Paulo, Brazil.
BACKGROUND
HTLV-1/2 diagnosis in high-risk populations from São Paulo, Brazil has been problematic due a high proportion of seroindeterminate results.


OBJECTIVE
To confirm and extend previous findings regarding HTLV-1/2 diagnosis in this geographic area.


METHODS
Sera from 2312 patients were tested for HTLV-1/2 antibodies using enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and Western blot (WB) analysis. Patients were from AIDS Reference Centers (Group I; 1393 patients) and HTLV out-patient clinics (Group II; 919 patients). Results were analyzed according to patients' age, gender, and clinic type.


RESULTS
HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 were detected in both groups. Among seropositive females, HTLV-2 was slightly more common in Group I (54.5%), while HTLV-1 prevailed in Group II (73.9%). Males from Group II had a higher percentage of HTLV-seroindeterminate results. No correlation between HTLV serological results and age was detected. Temporal analyses disclosed a high number of HTLV-seroindeterminate samples, and a large spectrum of indeterminate WB profiles. GD21 and/or rgp46-II bands were detected in 34.6% of sera from Group I, and a p24 or p19 band was detected in 35.3% of sera from Group II.


CONCLUSIONS
High rates of HTLV-indeterminate serological patterns during temporal analyses were confirmed in high-risk populations from São Paulo, Brazil.
Jacob
Fabrício
F
Immunology Department, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 355, 11 andar, 01246-902 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Santos-Fortuna
Elizabeth
E
Azevedo
Raymundo Soares
RS
Caterino-de-Araujo
Adele
A
D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance
D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies