Seroepidemiology of Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infection in Iran: An Overview

Endemicity of Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection in the northeast of Iran as well as noticeable prevalence of the infection in other parts of the country has been reported. In this review, findings of Iranian published studies which reports seroprevalence of HTLV-1 infection in general population, blood donors and patients with repeats blood transfusions, were discussed. The studies have shown a high prevalence of HTLV-1 infection in general population of some cities in Razavi Khorasan province such as Mashhad, Neyshabour, Sabzevar and Torbat-e- Heydarie. Prevalence of the infection has declined from 1.97% in 2004 to 0.42% in 2006; however, it was as high as 2.12% in general population in 2009. Prevalence of HTLV-1 infection is also noticeable in general population in Golestan (0.29%) and in blood donors in some provinces such as Charmahal-Bakhtiari (0.62%), West Azarbayejan (0.34%), Hormozgan (0.18%), and Karaj (0.11%). Furthermore, high rates of the infection (1% to 7%) have been reported among thalassemic, hemophilic and hemodialysis patients from various provinces including Charmahal-Bakhtiari, Tehran, Golestan, Fars, Hormozgan, Bushehr, Sistan & Baloochestsn, South Khorassan, and West Azarbayejan. Prevalence of HTLV-1 infection is high among general populations and blood donors from Razavi Khorassan and some other provinces as well as amongst patients with repeated blood transfusions in several regions of Iran. These findings support the necessity of selective screening for HTLV-1 to reduce the spread of infection.