title: Seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection among native and immigrant pregnant women in Spain.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Carlos III, Calle Sinesio Delgado 10, Madrid 28029, Spain. ana.trevino.rc@gmail.com
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Treviño
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Aguilera
authors: Estrella
authors: E
authors: Caballero
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Toro
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: Eiros
authors: Raúl
authors: R
authors: Ortiz de Lejarazu
authors: Juan J
authors: JJ
authors: Rodríguez-Calviño
authors: Concepción
authors: C
authors: Tuset
authors: César
authors: C
authors: Gómez-Hernando
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Rodríguez-Iglesias
authors: José Manuel
authors: JM
authors: Ramos
authors: Juan C
authors: JC
authors: Rodríguez-Díaz
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Benito
authors: Matilde
authors: M
authors: Trigo
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: García-Campello
authors: Enrique
authors: E
authors: Calderón
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Garcia
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Rodríguez
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Soriano
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral