PMID- 8123179
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 19940315
LR  - 20140912
IS  - 0256-9574 (Print)
VI  - 83
IP  - 9
DP  - 1993 Sep
TI  - Prevalence and transmission of HTLV-I infection in Natal/KwaZulu.
PG  - 665-7
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.
FAU - Bhigjee, A I
AU  - Bhigjee AI
AD  - Department of Neurology, University of Natal, Durban.
FAU - Vinsen, C
AU  - Vinsen C
FAU - Windsor, I M
AU  - Windsor IM
FAU - Gouws, E
AU  - Gouws E
FAU - Bill, P L
AU  - Bill PL
FAU - Tait, D
AU  - Tait D
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PL  - South Africa
TA  - S Afr Med J
JT  - South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
JID - 0404520
SB  - IM
EIN - S Afr Med J 1993 Dec;83(12):924
MH  - Adolescent
MH  - Adult
MH  - Age Distribution
MH  - Aged
MH  - Aged, 80 and over
MH  - Female
MH  - HIV Seroprevalence
MH  - HTLV-I Infections/*epidemiology/transmission
MH  - Humans
MH  - Male
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Seroepidemiologic Studies
MH  - South Africa/epidemiology
EDAT- 1993/09/01 00:00
MHDA- 1993/09/01 00:01
CRDT- 1993/09/01 00:00
PHST- 1993/09/01 00:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 1993/09/01 00:01 [medline]
PHST- 1993/09/01 00:00 [entrez]
PST - ppublish
SO  - S Afr Med J. 1993 Sep;83(9):665-7.