Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) among female prostitutes in Kinshasa, Zaire

Article Abstract:

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is usually transmitted either from mother to child (probably in breast milk), by sexual contact, or by transfusion or intravenous drug use. The virus has been linked to T cell leukemia and spastic paraparesis, a chronic demyelinating, neurologic syndrome involving partial paralysis of the lower limbs and muscular rigidity. Epidemiologic studies have identified endemic areas for HTLV-1 infections in parts of Japan, the Caribbean region, and in some IV drug using subpopulations in the United States. The distribution of this virus in African countries, however, has been the subject of some controversy. In 1985, blood samples were collected from prostitutes living and working in Kinshasa, Zaire, who were being tested for HIV-1 virus as part of Project SIDA, a collaborative effort between the government of Zaire, the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health (USA) and the Belgian Tropical Medicine Institute. These same samples were tested for this study in 1987 by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), to detect HTLV-1 antibodies. Positive ELISA specimens were confirmed by a Western blot assay. The 377 prostitutes who participated were all from Zaire; the most widely represented regions were Bas-Zaire (30 percent), Equateur (25.7 percent) and Kasai-Occidental (10.9 percent). HTLV-1 was present in 7.2 percent of the women from Equateur, a prevalence greater than for all other regions (1.8 percent). Being from Equateur was thus a significant risk factor for seropositivity for HTLV-1. Prostitutes had a higher HTLV-1 prevalence than pregnant women, suggesting that prostitution is a risk factor and confirming sexual transmission. Recent identification of a cluster of patients in Equateur with tropical spastic paraparesis further supports the idea that HTLV-1 virus is endemic in this area. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Demographic aspects, Disease transmission, Prostitution, Zaire, HTLV-I (Virus)

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HTLV-I infection among prostitutes and pregnant women in Kinshasa, Zaire: how important is high-risk sexual behavior?

Article Abstract:

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) does not appear to be transmitted sexually in Zaire. Researchers tested 1,183 prostitutes and 1,166 pregnant women in Kinshasa, Zaire for HTLV-I. Seven percent of the prostitutes and four percent of the pregnant women tested positive. The higher incidence in the prostitutes was caused by the higher incidence of HTLV-infection in prostitutes who were originally from the equatorial regions. These women were three times more likely to be infected than prostitutes from other regions. When women from equatorial regions were not counted, the rate of HTLV-I infection in prostitutes was no higher than the rate in the pregnant women. There was no association between HTLV-I infection and condom use, number of partners and length of time as a prostitute. Older age, HIV infection and syphilis were linked to HTLV-I infection, but only in the prostitutes from equatorial Africa. Only five of 409 prostitutes who were negative for HTLV-I became positive during a two-year follow-up.

Risk factors, Diseases, Congo (Kinshasa)

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A serosurvey of Haemophilus ducreyi, syphilis, and herpes simplex virus type 2 and their association with human immunodeficiency virus among female sex workers in Lagos, Nigeria

Article Abstract:

Sexually transmitted diseases are extremely common among female sex workers in Lagos, Nigeria. Researchers tested blood samples from 796 sex workers and found that 69-86% tested positive for antibodies to Haemophilus ducreyi, a cause of genital chancroid lesions. Twelve percent of sex workers were HIV-positive, 4% were infected with syphilis, and 59% were infected with herpes simplex virus type 2. Lower-class sex workers were significantly more likely to be infected with Haemophilus ducreyi.

HIV infection, HIV infections, Nigeria, Syphilis, Hemophilus infections, Herpesvirus diseases, Herpesvirus infections

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