DEMOGRAPHIC-FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HTLV-1 INFECTION IN A GABONESE COMMUNITY

An epidemiological study of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and syphilis has been carried out in a multiethnic community of seven neighbouring villages located in eastern Gabon on 1240 subjects over 5 years old (82.7% of the population in this age range). Antibodies to HTLV-1 (anti-HTLV-l) were detected by ELISA with confirmation by West ern Blot and antibodies to syphilis by Venereal Diseases Research Labo ratory assay with confirmation by the Treponema pallidum haemaglutinat ion assay. The prevalence rate of anti-HTLV-l was 8.5% and increased f rom 3.7% in the 5-14 years age group to 23.8% in the over 60 years age group. Logistic regression showed that the positivity for anti-HTLV-l was associated with age, ethnic group and sex (higher prevalence in f emales). The seroprevalence rate of syphilis was 8.2%. Seropositivity for syphilis and HTLV-1 were related but age was a confounding variabl e in this relationship. This study showing a highly heterogenous distr ibution of HTLV-1 in a geographically limited area suggests the role o f environmental and behavioural factors in HTLV-1 transmission.