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Human T‐Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Infection Among Pregnant Women in Northeastern Brazil

Summary: An evaluation of human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV‐1) infection among 6754 pregnant women in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot analysis, and polymerase chain reaction assay 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 compared with data on a control group of HTLV‐1‐negative pregnant women. The mean 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 transmitted infection and more than 10 sexual partners. Of the HTLV‐1‐positive women, 88.5% were breast‐fed, 4% were bottle fed, and 7.5% did not know. Six women had received blood transfusions, and only 1 reported intravenous drug use. Fifty‐two HTLV‐1‐positive women could be followed: 45 had full‐term deliveries, 5 had premature deliveries, and 2 had abortions. Our results indicate that (1) the frequency of HTLV‐1 infection among pregnant women is relatively high in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; (2) maternal infection was probably acquired more frequently through breast‐feeding, but the sexual route was cer tainly the second most important means of transmission; (3) HTLV‐1‐positive women had a history of eczema‐like infections in childhood more frequently than the control group; (4) HTLV‐1 infection did not interfere in the course of pregnancy; and (5) no associated congenital infections were observed in the HTLV‐1‐positive women.