Geographic distribution of human T-lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 among mothers of newborns tested during neonatal screening, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the geographic distribution of human T-lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/2) in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in puerperal women whose newborns were tested for HTLV-1/2 during neonatal screening, and to overlap seropositivity with social and economic status determinants.


METHODS
During September-November 2007, the dry-blood samples taken from newborns on filter paper for routine screening were also tested for maternal IgG anti-HTLV-1/2 antibodies. For reactive samples, the mothers of the newborns had blood drawn to test for these viruses.


RESULTS
The study analyzed 55,293 specimens taken from newborns. Of these, 52 (9.4 per 10,000) were reactive and 42 mothers (7.6 per 10,000) were confirmed with HTLV-1/2 infection. HTLV-1/2 geographic distribution was heterogeneous, with a tendency to be higher in the North and North-East parts of Minas Gerais. The highest rates of seropositivity were observed in Vale do Mucuri (55.9 per 10,000) and in Jequitinhonha (16.0 per 10,000), overlapping with the State's worst social and economic indicators.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge this was the first time that neonatal screening for HTLV-1/2 was performed in Brazil. This model could be used in other areas with high HTLV-1/2 prevalence rates. The detection of carrier mothers can enable intervention measures, such as providing infant formula to newborns, to be implemented expeditiously to reduce vertical transmission.
Ribeiro
Maísa Aparecida
MA
Fundação Hemominas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. ysaribeiro@gmail.com
Proietti
Fernando Augusto
FA
Martins
Marina Lobato
ML
Januário
José Nélio
JN
Ladeira
Roberto Vagner Puglia
RV
Oliveira
Maria de Fátima
Mde F
Carneiro-Proietti
Anna Bárbara de Freitas
AB
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D049590:Postpartum Period; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies