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HTLV Infections Among Swedish Intravenous Drug Users in 1992

1995; Informa; Volume: 27; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3109/00365549509047065

1651-1980

Sören Andersson, Aud Krook, Kerstin Käll, Inger Julander, Rigmor Thorstensson, Gunnel Biberfeld,

Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology

Serum samples collected in 1992 from 1158 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in Stockholm, Sweden, were tested retrospectively for antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus type I and II (HTLV-I and II). The overall prevalence rate of HTLV infections was 2.4% (28/1158). A majority of the HTLV infections were caused by HTLV-II (27/28). A significant association between HTLV-II and HIV-1 seropositivity was found, the prevalence of HTLV-II infection being 11.4% (11/96) in HIV-seropositive individuals compared with 1.5% (16/1062) in HIV-seronegative persons (p < 0.001). All the HTLV-infected individuals were of Scandinavian origin. No significant differences in age and sex distribution were observed in HTLV-infected persons compared to seronegative individuals. This study confirms that HTLV-II infection is present in the Swedish IVDU population and the findings provide baseline information for future epidemiological studies.