title: Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 and 2 Seroprevalence among first-time blood donors in Chile, 2011-2013.
abstract: Infection with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1/2 (HTLV-1/2) is a major health problem. HTLV-1/2 infection is endemic in Chile but representative donor prevalence data are lacking. Data on all blood donors in a large network of Chilean blood centers were examined during 2011-2013. Screening of HTLV-1/2 antibodies were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) at all blood banks. Blood samples with anticoagulants from initially reactive blood donors were analyzed by serological confirmation tests (immunofluorescence or recombinant immunoblot) at the HTLV National Reference Laboratory of the Public Health Institute of Chile. Additionally, detection of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 provirus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was performed in all blood donors as confirmatory test. Prevalence rates were calculated. Among 694,016 donors, 706 were seropositive for HTLV-1 (prevalence, 1.02 cases per 1,000; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-1.09), and 97 were seropositive for HTLV-2 (prevalence, 0.14 cases per 1,000; 95%CI, 0.11-0.17). Prevalence of HTLV-1 differed considerably by region, from 0.51 to 1.69 per 1,000. Prevalence of HTLV-2 was similar across the country (0.12-0.16). HTLV-1 prevalence was associated with female sex, older age, and residence in the north of Chile. HTVL-2 prevalence was associated with older age. The HTLV-1 prevalence among Chilean blood donors was relatively high and could be reduced by improving donor recruitment and selection in high prevalence areas. Blood center data may contribute to surveillance for HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 infections.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Virología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: San Martín
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Virología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Monserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balanda
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Virología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vergara
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: María Antonieta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Neurológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cartier
authors.affiliation: Subdepartamento de Vigilancia de Laboratorio, Departamento de Asuntos Científicos, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Virología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile.|Programa de Virología, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramírez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011533:Proviruses; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Chilean blood donors; HTLV-1; HTLV-2; prevalence