Rapid and Sensitive Qualitative Duoplex Real-Time PCR Method for Discriminatory and Confirmatory Diagnosis of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 Infections: Brazilian Multicentric Study.

Human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is the caustive agent of two main conditions i. e., the HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and the adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). HTLV diagnosis is based on serological and molecular approaches; however, an accurate and validated method is still needed. The objective of this study was to establish a rapid and sensitive molecular test to confirm and discriminate HTLV 1/2 types. The test validation was performed as a multicentric study involving HTLV confirmation centers throughout Brazil. Proviral DNA was extracted from whole blood and the amplification was performed using in-house designed primer and probe sets targeting the pol genomic region. An internal control to validate the extraction and amplification was also included. The limit of detection (LoD) of the assay was four copies/reaction for HTLV-1 and 10.9 copies/reaction for HTLV-2. The diagnostic sensitivity of the platform was 94.6% for HTLV-1, 78.6% for HTLV-2, and the specificity was 100% for both viruses. Cross-reactions of the test with human viruses including HAV, HBV, HCV, HIV-1/2, and parvovirus B19 were not observed. During the multicentric validation, the test was used to screen a total of 692 blood samples obtained from previously confirmed HTLV-positive individuals. From these, 91.1% tested positive being concordant with the previously obtained results. In conclusion, our duoplex-RT-PCR-HTLV1 /2 presented adequate efficiency for HTLV-1/2 differentiation showing high sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, it can be a suitable tool for confirmation of suspected and inconclusive HTLV cases, prenatal and pre-transplant diagnosis, in Brazil and in other countries HTLV-endemic countries.

[Cerebrospinal fluid puncture, consent inform, and ethics in research: the Brazilian Academy of Neurology recommendations]. / Coleta do líquido cefalorraquidiano, termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido e aspectos éticos em pesquisa: recomendações do Departamento Científico de LCR da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia.

The Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Scientific Department of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology (SD-BAN) suggests the use of consent inform for patients submitted to lumbar puncture. It should be explained to the patients the possible complications related to CSF puncture. The laws related to the research in human beings have also been discussed by the CSF SD-BAN.

HLA-G 14-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism is a risk factor for HTLV-1 infection.

About 95% of HTLV-1 infected patients remain asymptomatic throughout life, and the risk factors associated with the development of related diseases, such as HAM/TSP and ATL, are not fully understood. The human leukocyte antigen-G molecule (HLA-G), a nonclassical HLA class I molecule encoded by MHC, is expressed in several pathological conditions, including viral infection, and is related to immunosuppressive effects that allow the virus-infected cells to escape the antiviral defense of the host. The 14-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism of exon 8 HLA-G gene influences the stability of the transcripts and could be related to HTLV-1-infected cell protection and to the increase of proviral load. The present study analyzed by conventional PCR the 14-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism of exon 8 HLA-G gene in 150 unrelated healthy subjects, 82 HTLV-1 infected patients with symptoms (33 ATL and 49 HAM), and 56 asymptomatic HTLV-1 infected patients (HAC). In addition, the proviral load was determined by quantitative real-time PCR in all infected groups and correlated with 14-bp insertion/deletion genotypes. The heterozygote genotype frequencies were significantly higher in HAM, in the symptomatic group, and in infected patients compared to control (p < 0.05). The proviral load was higher in the symptomatic group than the HAC group (p < 0.0005). The comparison of proviral load and genotypes showed that -14-bp/-14-bp genotype had a higher proviral load than +14-bp/-14-bp and +14-bp/+14-bp genotypes. Although HLA-G 14-bp polymorphism does not appear to be associated with HTLV-1 related disease development, it could be a genetic risk factor for susceptibility to infection.

Coleta do líquido cefalorraquidiano, termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido e aspectos éticos em pesquisa: recomendaçöes do Departamento Científico de LCR da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia / Cerebrospinal fluid puncture, consent inform, and ethics in research: the Brazilian Academy of Neurology recommendations

O Departamento Científico de LCR (DC-LCR) da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (ABN) recomenda a adoçäo do Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido (TCLE) como procedimento prévio à punçäo para coleta de LCR, tendo como finalidade o adequado esclarecimento dos pacientes quanto aos riscos do procedimento e às medidas de prevençäo de complicaçöes do exame. O documento final do TCLE foi resultado de consenso entre os membros de DC-LCR. O DC-LCR da ABN considerou também pertinente e importante a divulgaçäo das normas legais relacionadas à pesquisas em seres humanos em nosso país

HTLV-I/HTLV-II / HTLV-I/HTLV-II

O volume de número III é sobre os vírus linfotrópicos humanos I e II (HTLV-I/II) e aborda aspectos relevantes da biologia, epidemiologia, diagnóstico e aconselhamento de doadores positivos.

HTLV-I/HTLV-II / HTLV-I/HTLV-II

O presente volume é uma atualizaçäo sobre os vírus linfotrópicos humanos I e II (HTLV-I/II) e aborda aspectos da biologia, epidemiologia, diagnóstico e aconselhamento de doadores positivos.