Human T-lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 are rare among intravenous drug users in Eastern Europe.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In Europe, human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type 2 mainly occurs among intravenous drug users (IDUs) with prevalence up to 15% and HTLV-1 among general population with prevalence <1%. However, there is no data regarding the prevalence of HTLV-1 or HTLV-2 in Eastern European IDUs population where HIV prevalence is relatively high. We aimed to determine the prevalence and genotypes of HTLV-1/HTLV-2 among IDUs and healthy volunteers in Estonia.

Methods

The study included 345 IDUs and 138 healthy volunteers. The presence of HTLV-1/HTLV-2 was determined by nested PCR; positive and negative controls were used in every PCR run.

Results

The analysed IDUs resembled the IDUs of HIV epidemic in Estonia: mainly male (79%) with median age of 30years (interquartile rang

SUBMITTER: Jogeda EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4949113 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature