Human T-cell leukaemia virus-I/II infection in Equatorial Guinea.

Reported is a study of the human T-cell leukaemia virus (HTLV) seroprevalence in Equatorial Guinea. Of the 1516 sera collected from the general population 36 (2.37%) were enzyme immunoassay (EIA) reactive. Ten sera (0.66%) were positive for HTLV-1 and HTLV-II. Immunofluorescence assays (IFA) were less useful than EIA testing. Western Blot (WB) assays confirmed 8 HTLV-positives using a recombinant envelope protein (rgp21) which is found in both types of HTLV. A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for DNA amplification was performed without any detectable HTLV DNA recovered. Within Equatorial Guinea the geographic distribution of HTLV prevalence ranged from 0.46% in the insular areas to 0.7% in the continental areas with urban areas having a higher prevalence than rural regions (0.65% vs. 0.42%). These findings provide confirmatory evidence that HTLV-II is present in Africa and is not exclusively a New World virus. Blood transfusion might play a significant role in the spread of HTLV in Equatorial Guinea.