title: Prevalence ratio of HTLV-1 in nursing mothers from the state of Paraiba, Northeastern Brazil.
abstract: The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) was the first human retrovirus known as a direct causal agent of a malignant disease. The vertical route of HTLV transmission is the most frequent pathway of the virus contamination. This study was performed to determine the prevalence ratio of HTLV-1 infection among nursing women. From January 2004 to January 2005, blood samples from 1033 nursing mothers from Paraíba, Brazil were evaluated for HTLV antibodies by ELISA and HTLV-1 viral particles confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HTLV antibodies were detected in 7 women. The overall seroprevalence ratio was 0.68% and HTLV-1 viral sequences were confirmed by PCR in 2 women. These preliminary data suggest that HTLV screening should be introduced as a mandatory test before breastfeeding and breast milk donation in Paraíba, Brazil. Additionally, counseling programs would help reduce the prevalence ratio of HTLV-1 infected individuals in this Brazilian region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Medicine, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia C F
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Pimenta
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashima Haddad
authors.forename: João G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: de Medeiros Filho
authors.forename: Maria José C
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Margareth F M
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Melina P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Lenisio B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pombo-de-Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral