Kjerulff B, Hønge BL, Olesen JS, Jensen MM, da Silva ZJ, Erikstrup C, Christiansen M. Phylogeny of human T-lymphotropic virus-1 subtypes in Guinea-Bissau.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2019;
112:175-180. [PMID:
29733405 DOI:
10.1093/trstmh/try039]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type 1 (HTLV-1) was the first human retrovirus discovered and there is an estimate of 15-20 million infected worldwide. Endemic areas are Japan, West Africa, Central Africa, South America, the Caribbean, Middle East, Australia and the Pacific Islands. In Guinea-Bissau, adult HTLV-1 prevalence is 2-3%, and higher among HIV-infected patients.
Materials and methods
Blood samples were collected in a recent HIV/HTLV survey in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau. Initially, participants were tested for HTLV serologically. The p24 and LTR regions of the proviral genome were then attempted sequenced. Sequences were analysed phylogenetically and compared with reference sequences for HTLV-1.
Results
A total of 3% (78/2583) participants were positive on chemiluminesent assay, six additional samples came from another study. Of the 84 seropositive participants we successfully performed sequencing on samples, from 66 participants, 17 were positive for LTR only, one for p24 only and 48 for both. Sequences were in subgroup D of HTLV-1a cosmopolitan, while HTLV-1g was present in one participant.
Conclusion
HTLV-1a subgroup D and, to a lesser extent HTLV-1g, is present in Guinea-Bissau and sequences are very similar, especially within households. Presence of HTLV-1g indicates monkey-to-man zoonotic events and at least two circulating HTLV strains in Guinea-Bissau.
New sequences accession numbers
MG387979-MG388043 for LTR and MG388044-MG388092 for p24.
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