Epidemiology of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 among blood donors and general population in Iran: a meta-analysis

The present meta-analysis aims to assess the epidemiology of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) among blood donors and general population in Iran. Methods: The present study was designed according to PRISMA guidelines. Results: The prevalence of HTLV-1 in 34 studies with a sample size of 3,626,364 blood donors was 0.20 (95 CI: 0.15-0.26) and the prevalence of this virus among men and women blood donors was 0.20 (95 CI: 0.15-0.27) and 0.64 (95 CI: 0.13-3.01), respectively and the female-male odds ratio was 3.13 (1.35-7.25, p = 0.008). In five studies consisting of 4763 individuals, the prevalence of HTLV-1 among the general population who lived in the main HTLV-1 endemic regions (Khorasan provinces, in northeastern Iran) was 2.5 (95 CI: 1.3-4.7) and the prevalence of this virus among men and women was 2.4 (95 CI: 0.8-7.1) and 3.4 (95 CI: 2.0-5.7), respectively. According to the systematic review, the prevalence of HTLV-1 in general population living in non-endemic regions of HTLV-1 was reported to be 0.07 to 1.8. Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of HTLV-1 in the main HTLV-1 endemic regions of Iran, persistent prevention programs are required in blood transfusion centers in these regions