SEROPREVALENCE OF HUMAN T-LYMPHOTROPIC VIRUS IN BLACKS FROM A SELECTED CENTRAL BROOKLYN POPULATION

Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) has been causally linked t o adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV -I-associated myelopathy. Few seroprevalence studies have been carried our in the United States. Because of the number of reports of adult T -cell leukemia/lymphoma and tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I-associ ated myelopathy in blacks from central Brooklyn, New York, we decided to initiate a seroprevalence study in this community. Intravenous drug users and male homosexuals were excluded. A total of 480 individuals from medical clinics and health fairs were surveyed via questionnaire, and their sera were assayed for HTLV-I/II antibody by two laboratorie s. An overall seroprevalence rare was 21/480 (4.4%). This is almost 20 0 times greater than a study of a national sample of U.S. blood donors . Rates were similar for individuals originating from the United State s and the Caribbean. Nine of the 21 seropositive individuals returned for further testing. Polymerase chain reaction assays revealed that 8 were positive for HTLV-I and 1 for HTLV-II. Although this group may no t be representative of the ''normal'' black population of central Broo klyn, the high seroprevalence rate-necessitates that the incidence of HTLV-I-associated illnesses be determined in this community.