title: Epidemiology of human lymphotrophic retroviruses: an overview.
abstract: The discovery of HTLV-I opened the way for the subsequent recognition of other human retroviruses. HTLV-I is linked to an aggressive T-cell cancer. The availability of a marker for the AIDS agent, HTLV-III, has substantially enhanced our ability to define the nature of the AIDS epidemic, its clinical and subclinical manifestations, and the spectrum of disease outcomes associated with this exposure. Of particular interest is the fact that there is substantial risk for AIDS and AIDS-related outcomes in virally infected individuals as detected by antibody positivity. The preliminary data from these well defined cohorts provide a basis for estimating the enormity of the AIDS epidemic as it is starting to emerge and provide an opportunity for the forward thinking health strategies necessary for dealing with a pandemic of such proportions.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Blattner
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Biggar
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Goedert
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000349:Africa; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003718:Denmark; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005164:Factor IX; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D012306:Risk; D013601:T-Lymphocytes; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D005164:Factor IX