Pulmonary disease is associated with human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1c infection: a cross-sectional survey in remote Aboriginal Australian communities
Date
2021
Authors
Einsiedel, L.
Pham, H.
Talukder, M.R.R.
Liddle, J.
Taylor, K.
Wilson, K.
Jersmann, H.
Gessain, A.
Woodman, R.
Kaldor, J.
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Journal article
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Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2021; 73(7):e1498-e1506
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Lloyd Einsiedel, Hai Pham, Mohammad Radwanur R. Talukder, Joel Liddle, Kerry Taylor, Kim Wilson, Hubertus Jersmann, Antoine Gessain, Richard Woodman, and John Kaldor
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Abstract
Background: The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) subtype c is endemic to central Australia. We report the first large-scale, community-based, health survey of HTLV-1 and its disease associations in this setting. Methods: Aboriginal community residents aged >2 years in 7 remote communities were invited to do a health survey that included a questionnaire, spirometry, and clinical examination by a physician blinded to HTLV-1 status, clinical records, and spirometry results. Blood was drawn for HTLV-1 serology and proviral load (PVL). Pulmonary disease was assessed clinically and spirometrically and, where records were available, radiologically after the clinical assessment. Associations between specific diseases and HTLV-1 status were determined using logistic regression, adjusting for available confounders. Results: Overall, 579 residents (164 children aged 3–17 years; 415 adults) were examined (37.7% of the estimated resident population). HTLV-1 prevalences for children and adults were 6.1% and 39.3%, respectively. No associations were found between HTLV-1 and any assessed clinical condition among children. Chronic pulmonary disease and gait abnormalities were more common among adults with HTLV-1 infection. Adjusted odds ratios among participants with PVL ≥1000 per 105 peripheral blood leukocytes were 7.08 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.67–18.74; P < .001), 9.81 (95% CI, 3.52–27.35; P < .001), and 14.4 (95% CI, 4.99–41.69; P < .001) for clinically defined chronic pulmonary disease, moderate-severe expiratory airflow limitation, and radiologically determined bronchiectasis/bronchiolitis, respectively, and 5.21 (95% CI, 1.50–18.07; P = .009) for gait abnormalities. Conclusions: In the first study of HTLV-1 disease associations based on community recruitment and blinded assessment, HTLV-1 infection was strongly associated with pulmonary disease and gait abnormalities.
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© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.