title: [The significance of HTLV-1 and HIV-2 for transfusion medicine in Europe].
abstract: Both viruses, HTLV-1 and HIV-2, are retroviruses and thus remain lifelong in the infected organism. HTLV-1 (human T lymphotropic Virus type 1) has spread worldwide, but Japan, Central Africa, Caribic, the northern part of South America and some regions in the United States show the highest prevalence. The screening of blood products for HTLV-1 is of minor importance. HIV-2 is found in West Africa, Brasil and Europe. The total number of infected people known in Europe is 219. HIV-2 will spread further in Europe, but the rate of increase cannot be predicted. For the screening of blood donations assays detecting both HIV's (1 and 2) are soon available. With regards to the presence of retroviruses, blood donations in Central Europa have yielded a very high degree of safety.
authors: Max von Pettenkofer-Institut, Universität München, BRD.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Gürtler
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
vernacular_title: Bedeutung von HTLV-1 und HIV-2 für die Transfusionsmedizin in Europa.