2329 subjects (blood donors and patients) from various areas of the Su
ltanate of Oman were investigated for the presence of HTLV-I antibody
by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method. 10 subjects (0.4%), including 9
/1586 blood donors (0.6%) and 1/165 patients with sexually transmitted
diseases (0.6%), were found to be Ela seropositive with a regional va
riation in seroprevalence of 0-1.4%. 6/9 EIA seropositive samples from
blood donors yielded 'indeterminate' results on Western immunoblot an
alysis (WBA). A much larger survey with additional confirmatory assays
such as a radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA), should provide a mor
e conclusive picture of the prevalence of this retroviral infection in
the Sultanate.