Geographical clustering of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I in Guadeloupe, an endemic Caribbean area

Abstract

Between January 1989 and December 1996, 59,426 blood donors from Guadeloupe (French West Indies) were screened for antibodies to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). Of these, 195 were confirmed as being positive for HTLV-I, yielding an overall prevalence of 0.33% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28-0.38]. On multiple logistic regression analysis, risk factors for HTLV-I were female gender [odds ratio (OR) 1.8; CI 1.3-2.4], increasing age (30-39 years, OR 2.2, CI 1.4-3.4; 40-49 years, OR 3.1, CI 2.1-4.7; > or =50 years, OR 5.6, CI 3.6-8.6) and positive hepatitis B core antibodies (OR 2.0; CI 1.5-2.8). HTLV-I seropositivity was also significantly associated with current residence in certain areas, highlighting microgeographic clustering: individuals living along the Atlantic Facade of Guadeloupe, which is a traditional sugar cane plantation area where Africans were brought during slave trading, were at increased risk for HTLV-I infection (OR 1.9; CI 1.3-2.7) compared with other areas in Guadeloupe devoted to other activities. Our report of HTLV-I cluster identification in Guadeloupe probably reflects both its low spread and its highly intrafamilial restricted transmission within this endemic Caribbean population.