Title | Infection with human T lymphotropic virus type I in organ transplant donors and recipients in Spain |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2005 |
Authors | Toro C, Benito R, Aguilera A, Bassani S, Rodriguez C, Calderon E, Caballero E, Alvarez P, Garcia J, Rodriguez-Iglesias M, Guelar A, del Romero J, Soriano V |
Journal | J Med Virol |
Volume | 76 |
Issue | 2 |
Pagination | 268 - 70 |
Date Published | Jun |
ISSN | 0146-6615 (Print) 0146-6615 (Linking) |
Accession Number | 15834870 |
Keywords | *Tissue Donors, *Transplantation, HTLV-I Antibodies / blood, HTLV-I Infections / *epidemiology, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / *classification / immunology / *isolation &, Humans, purification, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Spain / epidemiology |
Abstract | Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) antibody screening is not recommended uniformly before transplantation in Western countries. In the year 2001, the first cases of HTLV-I infection acquired through organ transplantation from one asymptomatic carrier were reported in Europe. All three organ recipients developed a subacute myelopathy shortly after transplantation. This report rose the question about whether to implement universal anti-HTLV screening of all organ donors or selective screening of donors from endemic areas for HTLV-I infection should be carried out. A national survey was conducted thereafter in which anti-HTLV antibodies were tested in 1,298 organ transplant donors and 493 potential recipients. None was seropositive for HTLV-I and only one recipient, a former intravenous (i.v.) drug user, was found to be infected with HTLV-II. In a different survey, HTLV screening was conducted in 1,079 immigrants and 5 (0.5%) were found to be asymptomatic HTLV-I carriers. All came from endemic areas for HTLV-I infection. No cases of HTLV-II infection were found among immigrants. These results support the current policy of mandatory testing of anti-HTLV antibodies in Spain only among organ transplant donors coming from HTLV-I endemic areas or with a highly suspicion of HTLV-I infection. |
DOI | 10.1002/jmv.20331 |
Notify Library Reference ID | 1550 |