Blocking HTLV-1/2 silent transmission in Brazil: Current public health policies and proposal for additional strategies

Author(s)

Rosadas, Carolina ^[1] ; Menezes, Maria Luiza B. ^[2] ; Galvao-Castro, Bernardo ^[3] ; Assone, Tatiane ^[4] ; Miranda, Angelica E. ^[5] ; Aragon, Mayra G. ^[5] ; Caterino-de-Araujo, Adele ^[6] ; Taylor, Graham P. ^[1] ; Ishak, Ricardo ^[7]

Affiliation

^[1] Imperial Coll London, Dept Infect Dis, Sect Virol, London - England

^[2] Univ Pernambuco, Fac Ciencias Med, Dept Maternoinfantil, Recife, PE - Brazil

^[3] Escola Bahiana Med & Saude Publ, Ctr Integrat & Muldisciplinar Atendimento Portado, Salvador, BA - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Espirito Santo, Programa Posgrad Doencas Infecciosas, Vitoria, ES - Brazil

^[6] Adolfo Lutz Inst, Ctr Imunol, Lab Pesquisa HTLV, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[7] Univ Fed Para, Inst Ciencias Biol, Lab Virol, Belem, Para - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases; v. 15, n. 9 SEP 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Human T-cell lymphotropic viruses 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/2) are relatively common in Brazil but remain silent and neglected infections. HTLV-1 is associated with a range of diseases with high morbidity and mortality. There is no curative treatment for this lifelong infection, so measures to prevent transmission are essential. This narrative review discusses HTLV-1/2 transmission routes and measures to prevent its continuous dissemination. The public health policies that are currently implemented in Brazil to avoid HTLV-1/2 transmission are addressed, and further strategies are proposed.</p> (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/03025-2 - Identification of polymorphisms related to HTLV-1 associated myelopathy / tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM / TSP)
• Grantee: Tatiane Assone Casseb
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral