Prevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus in civilian applicants for the United States Armed Forces.

Abstract

BACKGROUND. The wide range in human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) seroprevalences reported worldwide has made estimates of seroprevalence difficult in unique populations. In this study, the seropositivity of young adult civilian applicants for the US Armed Forces was determined. METHODS. Serum samples from nine geographic regions were screened by an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), and repeatedly reactive samples were further tested by Western blot and radioimmunoprecipitation. Specimens were scored as positive when antibody to gag (p24) and env (gp46 or gp68) were detected. RESULTS. Of the 43,750 samples analyzed, 18 were positive for HTLV antibodies. Ten (55%) were from males and eight (45%) were from females. Nine (90%) of the males and seven (87.5%) of the females were Black. Twelve of the positive samples (66.6%) were from the New York City region, which represented only 18.8% of the sample population. CONCLUSIONS. The overall HTLV seroprevalence of civilian applicants for the US Armed forces was 0.41 per 1000. This was higher than the seroprevalence reported for volunteer blood donors.

Infection with human T-lymphotropic virus types-1 and -2 (HTLV-1 and -2): Implications for blood transfusion safety

“…In a significant proportion of HTLV-1-positive cases, the donor either has links to an area of endemic infection or has a history of risk-related behaviors, such as injecting drugs [22]. Persons of African ancestry have higher rates of seropositivity [23]. Similarly, migrant populations from Okinawa to Hawaii, from the Caribbean to the United States, and from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom are at increased risk of HTLV seropositivity, as are those who experience exposure through sexual contact or blood transfusion in areas where the virus is endemic [24,25].…”

Description and Utilization of the United States Department of Defense Serum Repository: A Review of Published Studies, 1985-2012

“…[ 13 ] Roberts and his colleagues published the first (known) non-HIV-related study in 1992 in which they established the rates of human T-lymphotropic virus I and II infections among those applying for military service. [ 14 ] Other early retrospective serum studies were used to inform military vaccination policies for measles and rubella,[ 15 ] Japanese encephalitis virus,[ 16 ] adenovirus (serotypes 4 and 7),[ 17 ] and tick-borne encephalitis virus. [ 18 ]…”