A STUDY OF THE SEROPREVALENCE OF HUMAN T-CELL LYMPHOTROPIC VIRUS (HTLV) -1 AND 2 IN PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA

Abstract

Aim:To determine the seroprevalence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 in Port Harcourt, by identifying the presence of antibodies to HTLV-1 and 2 in Nigerians resident in Port Harcourt. Study design: This was a cross-sectional study carried out on potential blood donors and pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) and University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Methodology: A total of 360 participants (221 pregnant women and 139 potential blood donors) were recruited for the study, the participants were given questionnaires. Antibodies to HTLV-1 and 2 were screened for in the sera of the participants using ELISA. Antibodies to HIV were also screened for using qualitative immunoassay determine test strips. Results: Two (1.4%) of blood donors were positive for HTLV, both were males and 1 (0.8) was in the 25-34years age group while the other was in the 35-44years age group. There was a significant association between STD and previous blood transfusion with HTLV positivity. No pregnant women tested positive to HTLV. There were no cases of co-infection of HIV with HTLV. CONCLUSION: The results suggest low prevalence of HTLV in blood donors and pregnant women. There is need to confirm this by including more participants and using more sensitive tests, especially as data from other parts of Nigeria suggests otherwise.