title: Seroprevalence and correlates of human T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus type 1 antibodies among pregnant women at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus (HTLV)-1 is a retrovirus transmitted vertically from mother to child parenterally and sexually by infected lymphocytes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HTLV-1 antibodies and associated risk factors for HTLV-1 infection among pregnant women in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, southeast Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out from July to October 2010. Two hundred pregnant women were recruited consecutively from the antenatal clinic. Five milliliters of blood was collected from each of the participants into a plain sterile bottle and allowed to clot. The serum obtained was stored at -20°C until required for analysis. The serum samples were then analyzed for antibodies to HTLV-1 using a one-step incubation double-antigen sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Participants' demographic characteristics and degree of exposure to the risk factors associated with HTLV-1 infection were captured using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis of results was done using SPSS version 17.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of the pregnant women was 28.94 years (standard deviation 4.17). The age-group with the highest representation was those between the ages of 26 and 30 years. Thirty-six percent of the population was above 30 years old. The result of the tests showed that only one respondent, a 31-year-old pregnant woman tested positive for HTLV-1 antibodies. Therefore, the seroprevalence of HTLV-1 antibodies among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital was 0.5%, with a 95% confidence interval of 0%-2.8%. Some of the sociodemographic risk factors of HTLV-1 infection found to be applicable to the 31-year-old woman who tested positive included positive history of previous sexually transmitted diseases, high parity, low socioeconomic status, female sex, and age above 30 years. The pregnant women that participated in this study were exposed to risk factors and behaviors associated with HTLV-1 infection. Some of the pregnant women (17.5%) had contracted sexually transmitted diseases, and 80.5% did not use condoms during coitus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The seroprevalence obtained in this study was low, though it is 100% for anyone infected. More prospective and multicenter studies are required to determine the infectivity of HTLV-1 among pregnant women in Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Immunology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Augustine Ejike
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Okoye
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Immunology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Obike Godswill
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Ibegbulam
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Robinson Chukwudi
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Onoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Paul Olisaemeka
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Ezeonu
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Immunology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ngozi I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Ugwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Lucky Osaheni
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Lawani
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Immunology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chukwudi Simon
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Anigbo
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Immunology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Nonyelu
keywords: HTLV-1 antibodies; human T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus; pregnant women; seroprevalence