[An epidemiologic study of anti-HTLV-I (antibody to human T cell lymphotropic virus type I) by category of disease in the Kushima district of Miyazaki prefecture].

: HTLV-I seroprevalence in the southern part of Miyazaki prefecture was reported to be high in many seroepidemiological surveys. In order to determine the distribution of antibody to Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (anti-HTLV-I) in the Kushima district of Miyazaki prefecture and evaluate the relation between the HLTV-I carrier and disease, determination of anti-HTLV-I status of patients in a hospital in Kushima City, Miyazaki prefecture was carried out from March to July, 1985. Sera from 542 patients was tested for presence of anti-HTLV-I by particle agglutination (PA) and indirect immunofluorescence (IF). Results obtained area as follows 1) Overall prevalence of anti-HTLV-I was 31.2 per cent (169 of 542 individuals). It increased gradually with age and elevated remarkably in the 60-69 age group, showing the highest rate of 39.6 per cent. 2) Prevalence of anti-HTLV-I was 28.6 per cent (65 of 227) in males and 33.0 per cent (104 of 315) in females. A significant difference by sex was not recognized. 3) No significant difference was found in the geographical distribution of anti-HTLV-I, but prevalence in the Toi area was relatively low. 4) Anti-HTLV-I was prevalent in the patients with tuberculosis (46.2 per cent), most of whom had a history of blood transfusion. In this study, the relation between HTLV-I carriers and diseases was not analysed. 5) Seroprevalence of anti-HTLV-I in the patients who had had blood transfusions was significantly higher than that of those who had not had blood transfusions (p less than 0.01).