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- Title
Sexual transmission of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I).
- Authors
Murphy, Edward L.; Figueroa, J. Peter; Gibbs, William N.; Brathwaite, Alfred; Holding-Cobham, Marjorie; Waters, David; Cranston, Beverly; Hanchard, Barrie; Blatter, William A.; Murphy, E L; Figueroa, J P; Gibbs, W N; Brathwaite, A; Holding-Cobham, M; Waters, D; Cranston, B; Hanchard, B; Blattner, W A
- Abstract
<bold>Study Objective: </bold>To study the seroprevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in a sexually active population and to determine sexual behavior risk factors for infection.<bold>Design: </bold>Cross-sectional seroprevalence study using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot. Risk-factor data were gathered by administered questionnaire and chart review.<bold>Setting: </bold>Two urban, primary care clinics for persons with sexually transmitted diseases run by the Jamaican Ministry of Health.<bold>Patients: </bold>Of the 2050 consecutive patients presenting with new episodes of sexually transmitted disease, 1977 patients were eligible for analysis.<bold>Measurements and Results: </bold>Overall HTLV-I seroprevalence was 5.7%; prevalence increased with age from 1.6% (age, 14 to 19 years) to 5.1% (age, 30 years and older) in men and from 5.3% (age, 14 to 19 years) to 14.1% (age, 30 years and older) in women. Compared with a reference cohort of food service employees, age-adjusted HTLV-I seroprevalence was increased in female patients with sexually transmitted disease (odds ratio = 1.83; CI, 1.41 to 2.83) but not in male patients with sexually transmitted disease. Independent risk factors for HTLV-I infection in women included having had more than ten lifetime sexual partners (odds ratio = 3.52, CI, 1.28 to 9.69) and a current diagnosis of syphilis (odds ratio = 2.12; CI, 1.12 to 3.99). In men, a history of penile sores or ulcers (odds ratio = 2.13; CI, 1.05 to 4.33) and a current diagnosis of syphilis (odds ratio = 3.56; CI, 1.24 to 10.22) were independent risk factors for HTLV-I infection. Of 1977 patients, 5 (0.3%) had antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), including 2 with HTLV-I and HIV-1 coinfection.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>We conclude that HTLV-I is transmitted from infected men to women during sexual intercourse. Our data are consistent with the lower efficiency of female-to-male sexual transmission of HTLV-I, but penile ulcers or concurrent syphilis may increase a man's risk of infection.
- Subjects
INFECTIOUS disease transmission; HTLV-I; HUMAN sexuality; HTLV; RETROVIRUSES
- Publication
Annals of Internal Medicine, 1989, Vol 111, Issue 7, p555
- ISSN
0003-4819
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.7326/0003-4819-111-7-555