Seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection among native and immigrant pregnant women in Spain.
HTLV-1=2 antenatal screening is not mandatory in European countries. The rapid increase in immigrants coming from areas endemic for HTLV-1 infection has compelled a review of this policy in Spain. From February 2006 to December 2007, a cross-sectional study was carried out in all pregnant women attended at 10 different Spanish hospitals. An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to test serum HTLV-1=2 antibodies; reactive samples were further confirmed by Western blot and=or polymerase chain reaction. A total of 20,518 pregnant women were examined, of whom 18,266 (89%) were native Spaniards. Overall, 946 (4.6%) of the immigrants came from HTLV-1 endemic areas (mainly Central and South America and sub-Saharan Africa). Four samples were EIA seroreactive for HTLV-1=2, two of them in women infected with HTLV-1 coming from endemic areas. The other two women were infected with HTLV-2; one was an immigrant from Bolivia and another was a native Spaniard who admitted prior injection drug use and was HIV-1 positive. The overall HTLV-1=2 seroprevalence was 0.19 per 1000 (95% CI: 0.05-0.49=1000). For HTLV-1, the seroprevalence was 2.11 per 1000 (95% CI: 0.26-7.62=1000) in pregnant women from endemic areas. The seroprevalence of HTLV-1=2 infection is below 0.02% among pregnant women in Spain, and therefore universal screening for HTLV-1=2 infection in antenatal clinics is not warranted. However, HTLV-1=2 screening could be considered in pregnant women coming from endemic areas, in whom the rate of infection is nearly 1000-fold higher than in native Spaniards and are the only group infected with the more pathogenic HTLV-1.
Treviño
Ana
A
Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Carlos III, Calle Sinesio Delgado 10, Madrid 28029, Spain. ana.trevino.rc@gmail.com
Aguilera
Antonio
A
Caballero
Estrella
E
Toro
Carlos
C
Eiros
José M
JM
Ortiz de Lejarazu
Raúl
R
Rodríguez-Calviño
Juan J
JJ
Tuset
Concepción
C
Gómez-Hernando
César
C
Rodríguez-Iglesias
Manuel
M
Ramos
José Manuel
JM
Rodríguez-Díaz
Juan C
JC
Benito
Rafael
R
Trigo
Matilde
M
García-Campello
Marta
M
Calderón
Enrique
E
Garcia
Juan
J
Rodríguez
Carmen
C
Soriano
Vincent
V
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D044382:Population Groups; D011247:Pregnancy; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral