Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infection among pregnant women in northeastern Brazil

An evaluation of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection among 6754 pregnant women in Salvador. Bahia. Brazil using enzyme-linked im munosorbent assay, Western blot analysis, and polymerase chain reaction ass ay found a rate of infection of 0.84% (57 of 6754 women). Epidemiologic and obstetric data on the HTLV-1-positive pregnant women were analyzed and com pared with data on a control group of HTLV-1-negative pregnant women. The m ean age of the HTLV-1-positive women was 26.2 years. All were seronegative for HIV and syphilis. and only 2 reported a past history of sexually transm itted infection and more than 10 sexual partners. Of the HTLV-1-positive wo men, 88.5% were breast-fed. 4% were bottle fed, and 7.5% did not know. Six women had received blood transfusions, and only I reported intravenous drug use. Fifty-two HTLV-1-positive women could be followed: 45 had full-term d eliveries. 5 had premature deliveries, and 2 had abortions. Our results ind icate that (1) the frequency of HTLV-1 infection among pregnant women is re latively high in Salvador, Bahia. Brazil: (2) maternal infection was probab ly acquired more frequently through breast-feeding, but the sexual route wa s certainly the second most important means of transmission: (3) HTLV-1-pos itive women had a history of eczema-like infections in childhood more frequ ently than the control group: (4) HTLV-1 infection did not interfere in the course of pregnancy; and (5) no associated congenital infections were obse rved in the HTLV-1-positive women.