Abstract

MOSQUERA HERRERA, Carmen Eulalia; ASPIAZU MIRANDA, Elvia Piedad  and  GARCIA-BEREGUIAIN, Miguel Angel. Human T-lymphotrophic Virus Infection (HTLV-1) And Tropical spastic Paraparesis: Paradigms Of An Overlooked Tropical Disease. Rev Ecuat Neurol [online]. 2019, vol.28, n.2, pp.71-74. ISSN 2631-2581.

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. Howewer, 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 develope control and prevention strategies in the country.

Keywords : HTLV-1; tropical spastic paraparesis; Ecuador..

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