Distribution of Human T-Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) and Hepatitis C Co-infection in Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

Both Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are endemic in Brazil. In Salvador, the capital of the state of Bahia, 2% and 1.5% of the general population is infected with HTLV-1 or HCV. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and the distribution of HTLV/HCV coinfection in Bahia. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Central Laboratory of Public Health for the state of Bahia (LACEN-BA). All samples in the LACEN database submitted to serological testing for anti-HCV (chemiluminescence) and anti-HTLV-1/2 (chemiluminescence/ELISA and Western blot) from 2004 to 2013 were included. Infection rate was expressed as the number of infected individuals per 100,000 inhabitants in a given municipality; municipalities were grouped by microregion for further analysis. A total of 120,192 samples originating from 358 of the 417 municipalities in Bahia (85.8%) were evaluated. The overall HCV coinfection rate in HTLV-positive was 14.31% [2.8 (ranging from 0.4 to 8.0) per 100,000 inhabitants.] Twenty-one (5%) of the municipalities reported at least one case of HTLV/HCV coinfection. Most cases (87%) were concentrated in three microregions (Salvador: 79%, Ilhé us/Itabuna: 5%, Porto Seguro: 3%). Coinfection occurred more frequently in males (51%) with a mean age of 59 [(IQR): 46-59] years. HTLV/HCV coinfection in the state of Bahia was more frequently found among males living in the microregions of Salvador, Ilhé us/Itabuna and Porto Seguro, all of which are known to be endemic for HTLV infection.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of infection with human T-lymphotropic virus in a non-endemic area: a single institution study

“…Our study supports previous findings of increased prevalence of intravenous drug use and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection in the HTLV seropositive population ( Murphy et al, 1999 ). Epidemiologic data from Japan and Brazil (in regions endemic for HTLV) have reported HCV co-infection rates in HTLV-1/2 seropositive patients as high as 35.9%, and have suggested transmission routes through transfusions of infected blood products and intravenous drug use ( Nakashima et al, 1994 ; Pinto et al, 2012 ; Pereira et al, 2020 ). A recent meta-analysis of three separate studies of HTLV/HCV co-infection from China, Brazil, and Sweden found a pooled OR of 20.1 ( Rosadas and Taylor, 2022 ).…”

Performance of Chimeric Trypanosoma cruzi Antigens in Serological Screening for Chagas Disease in Blood Banks

“…HTLV, HCV, and syphilis have similar characteristics: they are sexually transmitted, endemic, and considered a public health problem in Brazil. Their specific mode of transmission facilitates coinfection with other diseases (51)(52)(53). On the other hand, the prevalence rate for HBV in Brazil is low, most likely due to vaccination, which has been available for more than 20 years (54, 55), although there are still unvaccinated individuals at risk.…”

Prevalence of infection by human T Cell lymphotropic viruses (HTLV-1/2) in adult population in Vitória-ES

“…Although considered intermediate, the rate is higher than that observed in the South and Midwest regions, lower than that observed in the North and Northeast regions, and similar to that observed in the other states of the Southeast region. 9 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 …”

“…7 Salvador, the capital city of Bahia state, has been identified as the epicenter of HTLV-1 infection in Brazil as 1.48% 8 of its population are infected by this virus, being more prevalent among black/mixed race women, those less educated and, due to the increased likelihood of HTLV acquisition over time, with increasing age. 9 …”