Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Mar 1990)

Prevalence of human T cell leukemia virus-I (HTLV-I) antibody among populations living in the Amazon region of Brazil (preliminary report)

  • C. M. Nakauchi,
  • A. C. Linhares,
  • K. Maruyama,
  • L. I. Kanzaki,
  • J. E. Macedo,
  • V. N. Azevedo,
  • J. S. R. Casseb

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02761990000100004
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 85, no. 1
pp. 29 – 33

Abstract

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Forty-tree (31.4%) out of 137 serum samples obtained from two Indian communities living in the Amazon region were found to be positive for HTLV-I antibody, as tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa). Eighty-two sera were collected from Mekranoiti Indians, yielding 39% of positivity, whereas 11 (20.0%) or the 55 Tiriyo serum samples had antibody to HTLV-I. In addition, positive results occurred in 10 (23.2%) out of 43 sera obtained from patients living in the Belem area, who were suffering from cancer affecting different organs. Five (16.7%) out of 30 Elisa positive specimens were also shown to be positive by either Western blot analysis (WB) or indirect immunogold electron microscopy (IIG-EM).

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