title: Environmental impact and seroepidemiology of HTLV in two communities in the eastern Brazilian amazon.
abstract: The objective of this study was to detect antibodies for human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) in subjects residing in two communities located in the eastern Brazilian Amazon and on the shores of the Tucuruí hydroelectric power plant. A total of 657 serum samples were analysed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with an anti-HTLV antibody (Symbiosis™, São Paulo, Brazil), demonstrating a virus prevalence of 4.7%. Most individuals with HTLV were aged over 30 years (P = 0.013), were unmarried (P = 0.019), resided in the area for more than 10 years (P = 0.001), had a low level of education (P = 0.015), and had a family income of up to $305 (100%). In contrast, there was no significant association between infection and sex, city of birth, haemotransfusion, or previous surgery. The prevalence observed in these communities suggests that the residents should be concerned about HTLV infection, and that some areas may become endemic for HTLV.
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology Laboratory of the Center of Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Fábio
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Magno Falcão
authors.forename: Hellen Thais
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Fuzii
authors.forename: Rosana Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Feio Libonati
authors.forename: Tinara Leila
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: de Souza Aarão
authors.forename: André Gustavo
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Moura Guimarães
authors.forename: Luisa Carício
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Juarez Antônio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Simões Quaresma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004777:Environment; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Brazil; health impact; hydroelectric plant of Tucuruí; prevalence