HTLV INFECTION IN A GROUP OF PROSTITUTES AND THEIR MALE SEXUAL CLIENTS IN BRAZIL - SEROPREVALENCE AND RISK-FACTORS

Sera from 653 female prostitutes and 153 male sexual clients living in the city of Santos, SBo Paulo, Brazil, were tested for the presence o f antibodies to human T cell lymphotropic virus types I and II. Seropr evalence for HTLV-I in the females was 2.8% and in the males 2.0%. Inf ection by HTLV-II could not be demonstrated. Seropositivity to HTLV-I was not associated with intravenous drug use, modality of sexual behav iour or a history of sexually transmitted disease. Among the prostitut es, the prevalence of anti-HTLV-I antibodies was 3 times higher in tho se with a history of blood transfusion (P=0.01).