Screening Survey and Genotype Analysis of HTLV-1 Carrier in Asia-Pacific Region

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K10602
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58020:Hygiene and public health-related: including laboratory approach
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus
• Principal Investigator: Fukushima Takuya 琉球大学, 医学部, 教授 (40336160)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 宮良 恵美 沖縄大学, 健康栄養学部, 准教授 (50457686)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: HTLV-1 / アジア・太平洋 / インドネシア / HIV/HTLV-1共感染

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This is the epidemiological study for HTLV-1 carrier in the Asian Pacific region. We had signed the agreement of the collaboration study of HTLV-1 screening study with Airlangga university in Indonesia on February 2020, but we had not be able to conduct the screening survey because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We had no choice but to extend the study period. In December, 2023, we conducted the test for anti-HTLV-1 antibody using the cryopreservation sera from 522 HIV carriers in the whole Indonesia. We found 3 HIV/HTLV-1 co-infection cases. All cases are originated from the residential area for the Melanesian indigenous tribes. It is presumed that the HTLV-1 genotypes are the Melanesian types (Type C). This study results show that the HTLV-1 carriers distribute not in the metropolitan ares including Jakarta and Surabaya but in the Melanesian indigenous tribe residential area in Indonesia.

Free Research Field

血液免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

HTLV-1は難治性疾患である成人T細胞白血病・リンパ腫、HTLV-1関連脊髄症の病因ウイルスで、感染予防対策が喫緊の課題である。そして世界の感染の現状を明らかにする研究は重要である。アジア・太平洋各国の感染状況は1980年代の調査以降の報告がなかった。今回、インドネシアの感染調査を実施し、ジャカルタ、スラバヤなど大都市部にHTLV-1キャリアは分布しておらず、オセアニア系先住民族に分布していること、さらにHIV/HTLV-1共感染例は少数であることが判明した。これはインドネシアの感染対策における保健医療へ重要な情報となる。HTLV-1感染者のDNAが保存され、バイオバンク拡大への礎となる。