HTLV-I II INFECTIONS IN SPAIN

Antibodies to HTLV-1/11 were investigated in sera from 7521 individual s living in Spain. They were classified in four major groups: a) subje cts at high risk of retroviral infections e.g. parenteral drug addicts , homosexuals, prostitutes, and multiple-transfused individuals; b) pa tients suffering illness associated with HTLV-I in endemic regions; c) immigrants from endemic areas; and d) blood donors. Sera were collect ed from 1984 to December 1991. Repeatedly reactive ELISA was found in 211 samples (2.8%), but Western blot only confirmed the presence of HT LV-I/II antibodies in 23 samples (0.30%), corresponding to eight (0.25 %) out of 3207 drug abusers, six (0.72%) out of 894 immigrants (five A fricans and one South American), three (0.41%) out of 727 patients wit h HTLV-related diseases (one woman with HTLV-I associated myelopathy h ad received blood transfusions in an endemic area), four (0.54%) out o f 793 prostitutes, one multiple-transfused native woman, and one (0.16 %) out of 603 native seamen. The Western blot antibody pattern confirm ed HTLV-II infection instead of HTLV-I in nine (39%) subjects. The rem aining 14 (61%) HTLV-reactive samples were interpreted as HTLV-I serop ositive, most of which were from immigrants. None of 857 blood donors analysed was reactive for HTLV antibody. These results suggest that bo th HTLV-I and HTLV-II are present in Spain, although at a low rate and mostly restricted to individuals coming from endemic areas, drug addi cts, and prostitutes. Furthermore, diseases related to HTLV-I (particu larly lymphoproliferative disorders, and subacute myelopathies) seem t o be rarely associated with these viruses in Spain, a non-endemic area .