Human T-cell lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV-I and -II) infection among seroindeterminate cases in Argentina

J Med Virol. 2007 Jan;79(1):69-73. doi: 10.1002/jmv.20731.

Abstract

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) seroindeterminate cases have been reported among blood donors (BD) and in at-risk populations worldwide, including Argentina. The objective of the present work was to study the presence of HTLV-I/II infection and its association to specific Western blot (WB) patterns among healthy BD and at-risk populations in Argentina. We analyzed 83 HTLV-I/II seroindeterminate WB cases diagnosed among BD (n = 49) and in different at-risk populations (n = 34) for human retroviruses infections. Multiple indeterminate WB patterns were observed. Out of the total, 13.2% (11/83) of the cases were found to be HTLV-I/II positive by nested-PCR (n-PCR), including 13.2% (11/83) HTLV-I and 2.4% (2/83) presenting HTLV-I and -II co-infection. Most of their serological profiles showed reactivity to gag or env codified proteins. Two samples amplified only one of the six analyzed genes (1 HTLV-I pol gene and 1 HTLV-II tax gene). There was no association between the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and an HTLV-I/II indeterminate WB pattern (only 3 of the 83 samples were positive for T. cruzi antibodies). In conclusion, the majority of HTLV-seroindeterminate WB donors lacked HTLV provirus and was thus considered uninfected. However, when seroreactivity to Env and Gag proteins are observed on the WB and especially in at-risk populations, HTLV infection should be suspected; such individuals should be followed-up and retested.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Argentina
  • Blotting, Western
  • HTLV-I Antibodies / blood*
  • HTLV-I Infections / epidemiology
  • HTLV-I Infections / immunology*
  • HTLV-II Antibodies / blood*
  • HTLV-II Infections / epidemiology
  • HTLV-II Infections / immunology*
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / classification*
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / genetics
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / immunology
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / classification*
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / genetics
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / immunology
  • Humans

Substances

  • HTLV-I Antibodies
  • HTLV-II Antibodies