Serological Characteristics for Human T-lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) type I/II in Families of a Toba-Qom community in the State of Santa Fe, Argentina

Abstract

Objectives: to identify the impact of the presence of the Human T-lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) type I/II in a closed Aboriginal community at the North of the State of Santa Fe, Argentina. To recognize the relationship between retrovirus and the most frequent infectious diseases pathologies. Material and methods: descriptive and cross-sectional study. It was worked with a closed cohort. The selection of the patients was conducted through a not randomized sampling. The unit of analysis was the person. The population was the families of a Toba-Qom community of the State of Santa Fe, Argentina, settled in the northern region. All participants signed an informed consent. Results: it was obtained a total of 60 samples in ages over 18 years, 42 women and 18 men. Range between 18 to 81 years old. The level of education was incomplete elementary school. According to the Genogram all the individuals were from Toba-Qom and no mixed races were found in the sample. Patients with pneumonia and tuberculosis received the treatment complete, including two hospital admissions in cases of tuberculosis. There was no history of Impetigo, sexually transmitted diseases or neoplasia. Contrary to expectations, no positive samples for HTLV I/II in none of the patients studied were found. Conclusion: the primary data of this study was the unexpected no serological findings of HTLV I/II virus in our sample, because according to our literature, it is possible to find positive serology in this Aboriginal community.