HTLV SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY IN A CENTRAL AFRICAN POPULATION WITH HIGH-INCIDENCE OF TROPICAL SPASTIC PARAPARESIS

In Lisala (Equateur region, Zaire), where a cluster of tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) was described, 28/200(14%) out-patients and hospital personnel were HTLV antibody positive. No differences in prevalences were observed between out-patients and hospital personnel or between ethnic groups. The annual attack rate of TSP/HAM is estimated at 0·15-0·3 per 1000 infected. The ethnic and familial clustering of TSP/HAM together with the high attack rate suggests the presence of co-factors for the progression to disease. This high prevalence of HTLV antibodies contrasts with the low prevalence in another part of the Equateur region. © 1990, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. All rights reserved.