title: Serologic and molecular typing of human T-lymphotropic virus among blood donors in Maputo City, Mozambique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Screening for human T-lymphotropic virus-1/2 (HTLV-1/2) infection is not performed in blood banks in Mozambique. The aim was to determine the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 among blood donors of the Maputo Central Hospital Blood Bank and measure the coinfection rate of HTLV-1/2 with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and syphilis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2019 consecutive blood donors were screened for HTLV-1/2 antibodies, HIV-1/2 antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) for syphilis. Specimens reactive on a first HTLV-1/2 enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were retested using a second EIA. Specimens that were dually reactive on both EIAs were further tested using Western blot (WB) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 18 dually reactive specimens (0.89%; 95% confidence interval, 0.48%-1.30%) were positive for the presence of HTLV-1 by WB and real-time PCR. HTLV-2 was not detected. The prevalences of anti-HIV, HBsAg, and reactivity in the RPR test were 5.72, 6.01, and 0.98 percent, respectively. There was no significant association between HTLV-1 infection and demographic variables (age and sex) or serologic markers (HIV, HBsAg, and RPR). For the 17 HTLV-1-positive donors for whom serologic data for HIV, HBsAg, and syphilis RPR were available, 2 showed coinfection with HIV and 1 with HBV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to other infectious agents, HTLV-1 is present at relatively low levels among blood donors in Mozambique. Cost and logistics will present as major challenges for introducing HTLV-1/2 screening in blood banks. In blood banks in Southern Africa where EIA testing is possible, a sequential algorithm of two EIAs may be a cost-efficient option for HTLV-1/2 screening.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Maputo, Mozambique.
authors.forename: Eduardo Samo
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Gudo
authors.forename: Celina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: Tufária
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mussá
authors.forename: Angelo do Rosário
authors.initials: Ado R
authors.lastname: Augusto
authors.forename: Koko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otsuki
authors.forename: Evelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chambo
authors.forename: Nádia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amade
authors.forename: Amílcar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanuri
authors.forename: Orlando C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Ilesh V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Jani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009073:Mozambique; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens