Central Australia is a human T cell leukaemia virus type 1c (HTLV-1c) endemic region which has the highest incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Australia. Factors associated with HTLV-1 seropositivity among Aboriginal Australian adults with CKD receiving haemodialysis (HD) were determined. A retrospective observational study of Aboriginal adults (≥ 18 years) who were receiving regular haemodialysis (HD) at the two main dialysis units in Alice Springs, 1(st) December 2010 to 31(st) December 2015. Demographic and clinical data prior to commencing HD were extracted from hospital records from first presentation to Alice Springs Hospital (ASH) to HD commencement and associations were determined using logistic regression. Among 373 patients receiving HD, 133 (35.9%) were HTLV-1 infected. Identifiable factors associated with HTLV-1 status included increasing age, male gender and diabetes prior to HD. The odds of diabetes mellitus was significantly higher among patients with HTLV-1 (aOR 2.76, 95% CI 1.19, 6.39; p=0.017). More than one fifth of participants had an acute kidney injury, the risk of which was increased among those with a previous blood stream infection (aOR 3.02, 95% CI 1.71, 5.34, p<0.001). Men with a high HTLV-1 proviral load (≥500 copies per 10(5) peripheral blood leucocytes) had an increased risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) prior to HD (aOR 5.15, 95% CI 1.62, 16.40; p=0.006). A strong association between HTLV-1 and diabetes, and an increased risk of UTI among men with a high HTLV-1 PVL, suggest that interactions between HTLV-1 infection and conventional risk factors may increase risk for CKD in this population. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.