title: HTLV infection among foreign pregnant women living in Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The overall seroprevalence of HTLV infection among pregnant women in Spain is below 0.02% and accordingly universal antenatal screening is not recommended. However, as the number of immigrants has significantly increased during the last decade, this population might warrant specific considerations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the seroprevalence of HTLV infection among immigrant pregnant women living in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2009 to December 2010 a cross-sectional study was carried out in all foreign pregnant women attended at 14 Spanish clinics. All were tested for HTLV antibodies using a commercial enzyme-immunoassay, being reactive samples confirmed by Western blot or PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3337 foreign pregnant women were examined. Their origin was as follows: Latin America 1579 (47%), North Africa 507 (16%), East Europe 606 (18%), Sub-Saharan Africa 316 (9%), North America and West Europe 116 (3.5%) and Asia and Australia 163 (5%). A total of 7 samples were confirmed as HTLV positive, of which 6 were HTLV-1 and 1 HTLV-2. HTLV-1 infection was found in 5 women coming from Latin America and 1 from Morocco. The only woman with HTLV-2 came from Ghana. The overall HTLV seroprevalence was 0.2%, being 0.3% among Latin Americans and 0.2% among Africans. It was absent among women coming from other regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The seroprevalence of HTLV infection among foreign pregnant women in Spain is 0.2%, being all cases found in immigrants from Latin America and Africa. Given the benefit of preventing vertical transmission, antenatal screening should be recommended in pregnant women coming from these regions.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Carlos III, Calle Sinesio Delgado 10, Madrid, Spain. ana.trevino.rc@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Treviño
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benito
authors.forename: Estrella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roc
authors.forename: Jose Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Eiros
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguilera
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cifuentes
authors.forename: Goitzane
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marcaida
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trigo
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Mendoza
authors.forename: Raúl Ortíz
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: de Lejarazu
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soriano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000235:genetics; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult