First Description of Seronegative HTLV-1 Carriers in Argentina

GALLEGO, SANDRA; FRUTOS, MARÍA C.; BLANCO, SEBASTIÁN; CASTRO, GONZALO; BALANGERO, MARCOS; ELÍAS PANIGO, DAVID; MANGEAUD, ARNALDO; REMONDEGUI, CARLOS; SANTOS ROCHA, ANDERSON; MELO FRANCO, GABRIELA; LOBATO MARTINS, MARINA; BARBOSA-STANCIOLI, EDEL FIGUEIREDO; NATES, SILVIA

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE

AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE

Año: 2020 vol. 102 p. 889 - 889

0002-9637

bstract. In some areas of Argentina endemic for human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), tropical spasticparaparesis is frequent in subjects who lack antibodies against the virus; however, the relevance of this seronegativestatus in the country has not been investigated. In neighboring countries, HTLV-1 seronegative status has been describedin patients with different diseases; however, data regarding features of seronegative HTLV-1 carriers are scarce. Weinvestigated the seronegative status in 124 relatives of 28 HTLV-1 infected subjects from an endemic area in NorthwestArgentina. Blood samples and clinical/epidemiological data were collected. Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 infectionwas diagnosed by serology and long terminal repeat (LTR) sequence, env and tax gene detection. IgG anti-Tax HTLV-1antibody, tax gene sequence, and DNA proviral load were also evaluated. Seventy-five percent of the 124 relatives werenegative for HTLV-1/2 antibodies; 35.5% were also negative by molecul