Seroprevalence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type i in Curaçao and predictive variables for that infection
Kamphuis, D.J.; Martina, I.S.; Keli, S.O.; Balentien, E.G.; Top, C.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 142(2): 89-92
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 9557000 Document Number: 486810
To determine the seroprevalence of human T-cell leukaemia virus (HTLV) type I and predictive variables in Curaçao. Descriptive. St. Elisabeth Hospital, Curaçao. A total of 2531 sera were randomly collected from a total population of approximately 145,000 over a period of three months (of seven the sex was not known). An initial ELISA test was performed to detect anti-HTLV-I antibodies. If this test was positive an ELISA re-test (in duplicate) was performed. If one of these re-tests was found positive a western blot confirmation test was performed. The association with age, sex, social class and history of syphilis were analysed with multiple logistic regression models and adjusted for confounding. The estimated prevalence of HTLV-I was 1.9% (49/2524). No significant sex differences were observed (odds ratio (OR): 1.13; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.62-2.05). Increasing age (p for trend = 0.0003) and lower social class (OR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.03-3.38) were important predictive factors for HTLV-I infection. Members of the lower social classes and persons 50 years or older were at relatively high risk (OR: 3.91; 95% CI: 2.21-6.94). HTLV-I infection is endemic in the island of Curaçao, as in other Caribbean islands. The estimated prevalence is 1.9%. Age and lower social class were important predictive factors for HTLV-I infection.