Document Type : Original Article (s)
Authors
1
Associate Professor, Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2
Associate Professor, Research Center for HIV/AIDS, HTLV and Viral Hepatitis, Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran
3
Research Center for HIV/AIDS, HTLV and Viral Hepatitis, Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran
4
Instructor, Research Center for HIV/AIDS, HTLV and Viral Hepatitis, Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran
5
Instructor, Center of Genetic, Pathological and Medical Diagnostic Services, Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran
6
Center of Genetic, Pathological and Medical Diagnostic Services, Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran
7
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Ghaem Hospital, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
8
Assistant Professor, Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
9
Professor, Allergy Research Centre, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
10
Instructor, Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
11
Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Abstract
Background: Northeastern Iran, particularly Mashhad city, is an endemic area for human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) infection; although, there is no data on the prevalence of HTLV-II in this region. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HTLV-II infection in general population of Mashhad.Methods: From general population of Mashhad, 1678 individuals were selected using multistage cluster sampling method. Serum samples were tested for the presence of HTLV antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay. To confirm HTLV-II infection, TAX gene and long terminal repeat (LTR) region were amplified using designed specific primers by nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) technique.Findings: From 1678 individuals, 1654 serum samples were taken, of which, 56 were positive for HTLV antibodies via ELISA method. All reactive samples were examined by nested PCR for the presence of HTLV-II provirus. None of the cases were positive for HTLV-II infection.Conclusion: The results of present study demonstrate no evidence of HTLV-II infection in the general population of Mashhad. However, it is recommended to investigate the prevalence of the virus among high-risk groups, specially injecting drug users in this region.
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