Epidemiology of human T cell leukemia virus type I infection in East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

J Infect Dis. 1987 Jun;155(6):1100-7. doi: 10.1093/infdis/155.6.1100.

Abstract

A serological survey of 317 healthy residents of rural Papua New Guinea (PNG) showed a 26% prevalence of antibodies to human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I). Antibody to HTLV-I was detected in 16% of children less than or equal to 10 years old (including an 18-month-old child) and increased to greater than or equal to 24% in subjects greater than 20 years old. Prospective examination for antibody in 104 residents of one village revealed a seroconversion rate of 13% over a one-year period. The mean titer of antibody in these subjects (1:183) was lower (P less than .0005) than that in persons who were persistently seropositive (1:718). Analysis for clustering of infected subjects suggested that personal contact within the home played a role in the horizontal spread of HTLV-I. These data indicate that HTLV-I infection has a higher prevalence in PNG than in other endemic parts of the world, exposure occurs at an early age, and infection and/or seroconversion is common in adults as well as in children.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Deltaretrovirus / immunology*
  • Deltaretrovirus Antibodies
  • Deltaretrovirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Deltaretrovirus Infections / genetics
  • Female
  • Filariasis / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Malaria / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Prospective Studies
  • Space-Time Clustering

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Deltaretrovirus Antibodies