Human T-lymphotrophic virus infection (HTLV-1) and tropical spastic paraparesis: Paradigms of an overlooked tropical disease.

Abstract

The human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1) infection is considered endemic in South America. For more than two decades clinical cases of HTLV-1 associated mielopaties have been reported in Ecuador, pathology known as tropical spastic paraparesis. There is only two studies about HTLV-1 seroprevalence in Ecuador, both of them with small sample size but showing a high prevalence of HTLV-1 infection, at least for afrodescendants and indigenous communities. However, there is not a currently screening for blood and organ banks carried out by ecuadorian public health authorities. This scenario makes HTLV-1 infection and associated pathologies (like tropical spastic paraparesis) neglected diseases in Ecuador. More epidemiological studies need to be implemented in order to develop control and prevention strategies in the country.