First description of HTLV‐1/2 seroprevalence in HIV‐infected inmates in Mozambique

No study has yet been conducted to estimate the burden of co‐infection of HIV and HTLV‐1/2 in inmates in sub‐Saharan Africa. To investigate prevalence of co‐infection in inmates in Mozambique, a total of 2140 inmates were screened for HIV, of which 515 were HIV seropositive. All HIV seropositive inmates were further screened for HTLV infection, and eight (1.55%) were co‐infected. Co‐infection was higher in females (3.45% [2/58; CI: 0.42‐11.91]) as compared to males (1.35% [6/445; CI: 0.55‐3.06]). Early screening of HTLV in prisons is urgently needed in Mozambique in order to improve the care provided to incarcerated individuals, including initiation of ART.