Seroprevalence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus and transfusion-transmitted viral hepatitis markers among hemodialysis and thalassemia patients in the South of Iran

Background This study was designed to determine the seroprevalence of HTLV among multi-transfused patients in the South of Iran. Methods All patients with β-thalassemia major and those on regular hemodialysis from the cities of Dashtestan, Bushehr, Genaveh, Tangestan, and Kangan participated in this study. Serum samples were tested for HTLV-I/II antibodies by ELISA, and Western Blot confirmed seropositive samples. Moreover, hepatitis-related markers were assessed using serological assays. Results Of 134 thalassemia patients, 6 cases (4.48%, 95% CI: 1.83%-9.91%) were positive for HTLV-I/II antibodies, all of which were confirmed by Western blot as HTLV-1. The hemodialysis patients and the controls were negative for HTLV-I/II antibodies. Of 6 HTLV-1 seropositive thalassemia patients, 4 cases were positive for anti-HCV antibodies (66.7%), and 2 cases were positive for anti-HEV IgG (33.4%). HTLV-1 seropositive thalassemia patients were negative for HBV infection criteria, while 5 of 6 patients (83.33%) had HBsAb in their samples. HTLV-1 seropositivity increased with age and was higher among single patients, female patients, residents of Kangan, patients receiving blood transfusions every two weeks, and Fars patients. Nevertheless, the seroprevalence of HTLV-1 was not statistically associated with marital status, gender distribution, place of residency, frequency of blood transfusion, age, ethnicity, or level of education. Conclusion This study reports a relatively high seroprevalence of HTLV-1 among patients with β-thalassemia major, highlighting a high risk of HTLV-1 exposure in the thalassemia population. Therefore, an evaluation of introducing HTLV donor screening is recommended to reduce the transmission of HTLV-1 infection.