SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY OF THE HUMAN T-CELL LEUKAEMIA LYMPHOMA VIRUSES IN EUROPE/

An extensive collaboration of laboratories and investigators has been developed to define the seroprevalence of human T-cell leukaemia/lymph oma virus type I and II (HTLV-I and -II) infection in Europe. An algor ithm for serological screening for HTLV-I and -II infection has been e stablished by consensus. Data from screening almost 4 million subjects , including many unpublished studies, which conform to this algorithm are presented. In extensive studies the seroprevalence of HTLV-I/II in blood donors is low, ranging from <1 in 100,000 to 30 in 100,000 dono rs and is due predominantly to HTLV-I. In antenatal clinics in France and the United Kingdom the seroprevalence of HTLV-I is >0.2%, but surv eillance in this setting has been limited and extensive study of the s eroprevalence of HTLV-I/II infection in pregnant women in Europe is ur gently required to determine the need for HTLV-I/II antenatal screenin g. HTLV-I is present in populations who have immigrated to Europe from endemic areas and is spreading into indigenous European populations, particularly through sexual transmission to females. HTLV-II infection is present predominantly amongst IVDU and is usually a coinfection wi th HIV-1. There are considerable regional differences in HTLV-II serop revalence.