Muscat – A new medical study has confirmed there were no verified cases of Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) among blood donors in Oman, highlighting the high safety standards maintained by the sultanate’s blood screening system.

Published in the Oman Medical Journal, the study is considered one of the most comprehensive assessments of HTLV-1/2 prevalence among blood donors in Oman. Researchers analysed blood samples from 24,469 donors at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital between January 2017 and February 2020.

The screening process initially identified a reactive rate of 0.2%. However, further confirmatory testing found no evidence of actual infection, resulting in a confirmed prevalence rate of 0.0%.

According to the study, most donors were male Omani nationals, with an average age of 32 years. Researchers said the findings indicate that HTLV currently poses no significant public health threat in Oman.

The study aimed to evaluate whether routine screening for the virus remains necessary, given the extremely low prevalence detected. Researchers noted that while the findings are reassuring, continued vigilance is essential to preserve blood safety.

They recommended maintaining regular donor screening and carrying out broader nationwide studies involving other blood banks to confirm the results on a larger scale.

HTLV is a retrovirus associated with serious health conditions including adult T-cell leukaemia and certain neurological disorders. Although the virus is found in some parts of the world, particularly Japan, the Caribbean and parts of South America and Africa, its prevalence remains low in most Gulf countries.

The researchers concluded that Oman’s blood donation system remains highly secure, with the study providing further evidence of the effectiveness of current screening protocols.

Meanwhile, Human T-cell Lymphotropic Viruses types 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/2) are retroviruses that infect T-lymphocytes and affect millions of people worldwide. Transmission occurs primarily through breastfeeding, sexual contact and exposure to contaminated blood products.

HTLV-1 is associated with serious conditions, including adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL) and a chronic neurological disorder known as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy, or tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). In contrast, HTLV-2 is considered less pathogenic and has not been strongly linked to specific diseases, although ongoing research continues to examine its potential clinical impact.

Health experts note that while the global burden of HTLV remains unevenly distributed, with higher prevalence reported in parts of Japan, the Caribbean, South America and sub-Saharan Africa, the risk in Oman appears to be minimal based on current evidence.