Seroprevalencia de la infección por HTLV-1 en diferentes grupos de riesgo estudiados en Cuba

in the period between 1991 and 1996, 26 352 serum samples from different risk groups and blood donors, were studied to know the seroprevalence of antibodies against the human t-lymphotropic virus type i (htlv-i), and also as a continuation of researches carried out between 1989 and 1990. the elisa davih-htlv-i system was used for the antibodies investigation, and as a certifying test, the western blot davih-blot htlv-i was used too, both from the cuban davih laboratories. the presence of anti htlv-i antibodies was confirmed in 10 persons, and in most of them the epidemiologic study could elucidate the probable way of contagion. the seropositivity index observed was of 0,037 %, and is low if compared with the seroprevalence rates reported for the caribbean area.