EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HTLV-I IN GUADELOUPE

Abstract

P081 Objective: To describe the risk factors for HTLV-I infection among Guadeloupean blood donors. Methods: Between January 1989 and December 1996, 59,426 sera were screened for antibodies to HTLV-I/II by using HTLV-I EIA assays (HTLV-I EIA Abbott, NC, IL). All repeatedly positive sera were confirmed by western blot (Genelabs Diagnostics, Singapore). The seropositivity criteria were based on HTLV-I antibody reactivity to p19, p24, GD21, and rgp46-I. Basic data including age, gender, and current residence were recorded. A multiple logistic regression was performed using SAS version 6.11 software (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). Results: 195 sera were confirmed as HTLV-I seropositive giving an overall prevalence of 0.33% (95%CI, 0.28-0.38). Current residence (Atlantic façade of Guadeloupe, OR 1.9), as well as female gender (OR 1.8), increasing age (≥ 50 years, OR 5.6), positive Hepatitis B core antibodies (OR 2.0), and new donor status (OR, 12.5) were identified as major risk factors for HTLV-I. Conclusion: An overall HTLV-I prevalence of 0.33% is low for an endemic area such as Guadeloupe. Our study highlights foci of microendemicity in Guadeloupe, likely suggesting both a low HTLV-I's spread and its highly intrafamilial restricted transmission within this Caribbean population.