Sánchez-Núñez JP, de-Miguel-Balsa E, Soriano V, Lorenzo-Garrido E, Giménez-Richarte A, Otero-Rodriguez S, Celis-Salinas JC, de-Mendoza C, Casapia-Morales M, Ramos-Rincón JM. Prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection in pregnant women in Central and South America and the Caribbean: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Int J Infect Dis 2024;
143:107018. [PMID:
38522611 DOI:
10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107018]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLV)-1 infection is endemic in many countries of Central and South America and Caribbean (CSA&C). Neither screening nor surveillance programs exist for HTLV-1/2 infection among pregnant women in this region. Neither in Western nations with large migrant flows from HTLV-1/2 endemic regions.
METHODS
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection among CSA&C pregnant women. We included studies searching EMBASE, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to February 15, 2023. This systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines.
RESULTS
We identified a total of 620 studies. Only 41 were finally included in the meta-analysis. Most studies (61.0%) were from Brazil and Peru (14.6%). The total number of participants was 343,707. The pooled prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection among CSA&C pregnant women was 1.30% (95% CI: 0.96-1.69) using anti-HTLV-1/2 antibody screening tests. There was a high heterogeneity (I2 = 98.6%). Confirmatory tests gave an HTLV-1 infection rate of 1.02% (95% CI: 0.75-1.33).
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection among CSA&C pregnant women is 1.3%, most cases being HTLV-1. This rate is greater than for other microbial agents regularly checked as part of antenatal screening (such as HIV, hepatitis B, or syphilis). Thus, HTLV-1/2 antenatal testing should be mandatory among CSA&C pregnant women everywhere.
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