Document 0379
 DOCN  M9440379
 TI    Prevalence and transmission of HTLV-I infection in Natal/KwaZulu.
 DT    9404
 AU    Bhigjee AI; Vinsen C; Windsor IM; Gouws E; Bill PL; Tait D; Department
       of Neurology, University of Natal, Durban.
 SO    S Afr Med J. 1993 Sep;83(9):665-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94143811
 AB    A community-based seroprevalence survey for human T-cell lymphotropic
       virus type I (HTLV-I) was undertaken in the Ngwelezane district of
       Natal/KwaZulu. A total of 1,018 individuals was interviewed for risk
       factors and had blood drawn for serological examination. To exclude
       antibody cross-reactivity between anti-HTLV-I and anti-HTLV-II all
       Western blot HTLV-I-positive samples were further subjected to a Select
       HTLV test. For comparison, anonymous HIV testing was done. The areas of
       residence of patients with myelopathy associated with HTLV-I were also
       ascertained. The seroprevalence of HTLV-I was 2.6% (95% confidence
       interval (CI) 1.62-3.58). An age-related rise in HTLV-I seropositivity
       from 1.3% in the 15-24-year age group to 6.1% in the over 55-year-old
       group was noted. There was no significant association between HTLV-I
       antibody positivity and marital status, occupation, history of blood
       transfusion, scarification, age at first sexual experience and number of
       sexual partners. Anti-HIV-1 antibody testing revealed a positivity of
       3.5% (95% CI 2.4-4.68) and the relative risk for co-infection with both
       HTLV-I and HIV-1 in the 15-24-year group was 1.16 (95% CI 1.08-1.24).
       The study also identified the first HTLV-II-seropositive case in the
       Natal/KwaZulu region. Up to December 1991, 90 cases of HTLV-I-associated
       myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis were seen at the Neurology Unit,
       Wentworth Hospital. The patients came from all parts of Natal, from
       Pongola in the north to Transkei in the south. The Natal/KwaZulu region
       is, therefore, an endemic HTLV-I area.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Age Distribution  Aged  Aged, 80 and over  Female
       Human  HIV Seroprevalence  HTLV-I Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION
       Male  Middle Age  Seroepidemiologic Methods  South Africa/EPIDEMIOLOGY
       Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  JOURNAL ARTICLE

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       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).