Seroprevalence of human T lymphotropic virus type I in Puerto Rico

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1989 Jun;40(6):659-62. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1989.40.659.

Abstract

Serum specimens from Puerto Rican residents were tested for antibodies to human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) using an enzyme immunoassay, Western immunoblot, and radioimmunoprecipitation assays. Of 1,279 specimens obtained during a dengue virus surveillance program in 1986 and 1987, 3 (0.2%) tested positive; an additional 11 were indeterminate. Of 602 specimens obtained from blood donors in Ponce in 1987, 1 (0.2%) was positive; an additional specimen was indeterminate. Of 21 persons hospitalized for problems related to intravenous drug use in 1986 and 1987, 1 (5%) tested positive for HTLV-I antibodies.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blotting, Western
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Genes, Viral
  • HTLV-I Antibodies / analysis*
  • HTLV-I Antibodies / genetics
  • HTLV-I Infections / epidemiology
  • HTLV-I Infections / immunology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Puerto Rico

Substances

  • HTLV-I Antibodies