TY - JOUR
T1 - Human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLV) in England and Wales, 2004 to 2013
T2 - Testing and diagnoses
AU - Ireland, G.
AU - Croxford, Sara
AU - Tosswill, Jennifer
AU - Raghu, R.
AU - Davison, K.
AU - Hewitt, P.
AU - Simmons, R.
AU - Taylor, G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). All rights reserved.
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2017/5/25
Y1 - 2017/5/25
N2 - Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection has been under enhanced surveillance in England and Wales since 2002, however, little is known about testing patterns. Using data from two surveillance systems held at Public Health England, we described HTLV antibody testing patterns between 2008 and 2013 and the demographic and clinical characteristics of persons diagnosed with HTLV in England and Wales between 2004 and 2013. An increase in HTLV testing was observed in England between 2008 and 2013 (3,581 to 7,130). Most tests (82%; 7,597/9,302) occurred within secondary care, 0.5% (48/9,302) of persons were reactive for HTLV antibodies and 0.3% (27/9,302) were confirmed positive. Increasing age and female sex were predictors of a reactive HTLV screen and confirmed diagnosis. Testing in primary care including sexual health and antenatal services was infrequent. Between 2004 and 2013, 858 people were diagnosed with HTLV, most of whom were female (65%; 549/851), of black Caribbean ethnicity (60%), not born in the United Kingdom (72%; 369/514) and asymptomatic at diagnosis (45%; 267/595). Despite increased testing, the epidemiology and clinical features of those diagnosed with HTLV have remained consistent. Apart from donor screening, testing for HTLV infection remains uncommon, except to diagnose associated disease.
AB - Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection has been under enhanced surveillance in England and Wales since 2002, however, little is known about testing patterns. Using data from two surveillance systems held at Public Health England, we described HTLV antibody testing patterns between 2008 and 2013 and the demographic and clinical characteristics of persons diagnosed with HTLV in England and Wales between 2004 and 2013. An increase in HTLV testing was observed in England between 2008 and 2013 (3,581 to 7,130). Most tests (82%; 7,597/9,302) occurred within secondary care, 0.5% (48/9,302) of persons were reactive for HTLV antibodies and 0.3% (27/9,302) were confirmed positive. Increasing age and female sex were predictors of a reactive HTLV screen and confirmed diagnosis. Testing in primary care including sexual health and antenatal services was infrequent. Between 2004 and 2013, 858 people were diagnosed with HTLV, most of whom were female (65%; 549/851), of black Caribbean ethnicity (60%), not born in the United Kingdom (72%; 369/514) and asymptomatic at diagnosis (45%; 267/595). Despite increased testing, the epidemiology and clinical features of those diagnosed with HTLV have remained consistent. Apart from donor screening, testing for HTLV infection remains uncommon, except to diagnose associated disease.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85021122132&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.20.30539
DO - 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.20.30539
M3 - Article
C2 - 28598325
AN - SCOPUS:85021122132
SN - 1025-496X
VL - 22
JO - Eurosurveillance
JF - Eurosurveillance
IS - 21
ER -