Document 3179
 DOCN  M94A3179
 TI    HTLV-I/II infection among French blood donors.
 DT    9412
 AU    Pillonel J; Courouce AM; Lemaire JM; Brunet JB; National Network of
       Public Health, France.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):135 (abstract no. PA0158). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369396
 AB    OBJECTIVES: 1) to determine the prevalence of HTLV-I/II antibodies among
       French blood donors (BDs) since the beginning of the systematic
       screening (15th July 1991) in Continental France (CF). 2) to study the
       epidemiological characteristics of HTLV-I/II seropositive BDs. METHOD:
       Since July 1991, the monitoring of HTLV-I/II mandatory screening
       activity was organized in France. For each BD confirmed as HTLV-I/II
       positive (Elisa + WB), the BT centers provided routinely informations on
       age, sex and results of other mandatory tests (anti-HIV, HBsAg,
       anti-HBc, anti-HCV) while informations on geographical origin and risk
       factor were recorded through post-test interview. RESULTS: The
       prevalence of HTLV-I/II per 10,000 blood donations was: TABULAR DATA.
       SEE ABSTRACT VOLUME. From 1991 to 1993, all the 165 HTLV positive BDs
       identified in overseas territories were HTLV-I. In CF, 5 were HTLV-II (1
       born in Cameroon + 4 intravenous drug addicts) and 170 were HTLV-I.
       Among the 170 HTLV-I found in CF, 50% were originating from CF, 38% from
       the Caribbean, 5% from Africa, 2% from South-America and 5% from other
       or unknown countries. Among the 85 BDs originating from CF, 79% had a
       sexual partner from Caribbean. Due to previously targeted screening
       policy and other mandatory tests, 49% of the infected units in CF would
       have been discarded in the absence of universal screening. CONCLUSION:
       HTLV prevalence is low in CF where the infection is mainly due to HTLV-I
       (97%) and linked to endemic areas, mainly the Caribbean. As the
       prevalence decreased between 1991 and 1993, the cost per avoided
       contamination with the new screening policy went up from 1.34 to 4.24
       million F. francs.
 DE    Age Factors  *Blood Donors  Blotting, Western  Caribbean
       Region/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Comparative Study  Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent
       Assay  Female  France/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Hepatitis Antibodies/BLOOD
       Hepatitis B Antibodies/BLOOD  Hepatitis C Viruses  Human  HIV
       Antibodies/BLOOD  HTLV-I Antibodies/*BLOOD  HTLV-I
       Infections/BLOOD/DIAGNOSIS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY  HTLV-II Antibodies/*BLOOD
       HTLV-II Infections/BLOOD/DIAGNOSIS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY  Male  Prevalence  Sex
       Factors  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).