Seroprevalence of the Human T Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV 1 and HTLV 2) in Blood Donor Candidates in the State of Pará, Northern Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: Maneschy, Carolina de Alcântara
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Barile, Katarine Antonia do Santos, Castro, Jairo Augusto Américo de, Palmeira, Maurício Koury, Castro, Renata Bezerra Hermes de, Amaral, Carlos Eduardo de Melo
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Research, Society and Development
• Texto Completo: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/27082
• topic: HTLV infection; Blood donors; Soroprevalência.; Infecciones por Deltaretrovirus; Donantes de Sangre; Estudios Seroepidemiológicos.; Infecções por HTLV; Doadores de sangue; Seroprevalence.

The present study describes HTLV seroprevalence in potential blood donors from the Brazilian state of Pará, and the sociodemographic characteristics of the infection in this state. This descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study is based on secondary serological and sociodemographic data on potential blood donors who were rejected for presenting reactive results in the serological HTLV screening between January 2010 and December 2020. The mean HTLV seroprevalence was 0.2%. The highest frequency of reactivity was recorded in first-time donors, women, individuals over 30 years old that were single and had a relatively low level of  education. There have been many advances since the discovery of HTLV, although it is still considered to be a neglected etiological agent in Brazil. Further research on data from hematological services will be necessary to refine regional infection profiles, which will be fundamental for the development of adequate prophylactic practises to control and prevent infection, as well the dissemination of information on the dangers of HTLV to the general population.