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Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is a human, single-stranded RNA retrovirus that causes T-cell leukemia and T-cell lymphoma in adults and may also be involved in certain demyelinating diseases.
HTLV-I
HTLV-I is an abbreviation for the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1, also called the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type 1, a virus that has been seriously implicated in a the cause of several kinds of diseases including HTLV-1-associated myelopathy and a virus cancer link for leukemia: see adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.
Infection with HTLV-I, like infection with other retroviruses, probably occurs for life and can be inferred when antibody against HTLV-1 is detected in the serum. HTLV-I infection in the United States appears to be rare. Although little serologic data exist, prevalence of infection is thought to be highest among blacks living in the Southeast. A prevalence rate of 30% has been found among black intravenous drug abusers in New Jersey, and a rate of 49% has been found in a similar group in New Orleans. It is possible that prevalence of infection is increasing in this risk group. Studies of HTLV-I antibody indicate that the virus is endemic in southern Japan, in the Caribbean, and in Africa.
Transmission of HTLV-I is believed to occur from mother to child; by sexual contact; and through exposure to contaminated blood, either through blood transfusion or sharing of contaminated needles.
HTLV-II
A virus closely related to HTLV-I, HTLV-II shares 60% genomic homology (structural similarity) with HTLV-I. It is found predominantly in IV drug users and Native Americans, as well as Caribbean and South American Indian groups. HTLV-II has not been clearly been linked to any disease, but has been associated with several cases of myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP)-like neurological disease.
"HTLV-III"
HTLV-III or HTLV-3 was a name that was applied to HIV in the early literature and has now largely fallen out of use.
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