{Reference Type}: Systematic Review
{Title}: Prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection in pregnant women in Central and South America and the Caribbean: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
{Author}: Sánchez-Núñez JP;de-Miguel-Balsa E;Soriano V;Lorenzo-Garrido E;Giménez-Richarte A;Otero-Rodriguez S;Celis-Salinas JC;de-Mendoza C;Casapia-Morales M;Ramos-Rincón JM;
{Journal}: Int J Infect Dis
{Volume}: 143
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jun 22
{Factor}: 12.074
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107018
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLV)-1 infection is endemic in many countries of Central and South America and Caribbean (CSA&C). Neither screening nor surveillance programs exist for HTLV-1/2 infection among pregnant women in this region. Neither in Western nations with large migrant flows from HTLV-1/2 endemic regions.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection among CSA&C pregnant women. We included studies searching EMBASE, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to February 15, 2023. This systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>We identified a total of 620 studies. Only 41 were finally included in the meta-analysis. Most studies (61.0%) were from Brazil and Peru (14.6%). The total number of participants was 343,707. The pooled prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection among CSA&C pregnant women was 1.30% (95% CI: 0.96-1.69) using anti-HTLV-1/2 antibody screening tests. There was a high heterogeneity (I2 = 98.6%). Confirmatory tests gave an HTLV-1 infection rate of 1.02% (95% CI: 0.75-1.33).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection among CSA&C pregnant women is 1.3%, most cases being HTLV-1. This rate is greater than for other microbial agents regularly checked as part of antenatal screening (such as HIV, hepatitis B, or syphilis). Thus, HTLV-1/2 antenatal testing should be mandatory among CSA&C pregnant women everywhere.