HTLV-1 infection in patients with neurological manifestations in Northeast Brazil

Abstract

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection is associated with a broad spectrum of neurological manifestations, including conditions that may precede the development of HTLV-1–associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). This analytical, descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HTLV-1 infection and describe associated sociodemographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics among patients with neurological disorders followed at a tertiary public hospital in Northeast Brazil between 2024 and 2025. A total of 300 patients underwent serological screening using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a commercial kit (DiaSorin Murex HTLV-1 + 2). Samples with positive or indeterminate results underwent DNA extraction and molecular confirmation by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to differentiate viral types. Three patients tested positive for HTLV-1, resulting in an overall prevalence of 1.0%. All HTLV-1-positive individuals were women aged 43 to 72 years with low educational attainment and income. Univariate analyses identified significant associations with injection drug use, history of blood transfusion, and family history of HTLV-1 infection. Clinically, HTLV-1-positive patients presented heterogeneous neurological manifestations, ranging from urinary dysfunction and lower limb sensory and motor impairment to musculoskeletal and inflammatory symptoms. These findings highlight the broad spectrum of neurological involvement associated with HTLV-1 infection. Early identification of HTLV-1 may contribute to improved clinical management and inform public health strategies.

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