title: HTLV-I associated myelopathy: an endemic disease of Canadian aboriginals of the Northwest Pacific coast?
abstract: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) is responsible for HTLV-I associated myelopathy or tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and for adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). Both diseases have been well described in individuals living in Japan, West Indies, Seychelles Islands and Columbia where infection with HTLV-I is considered endemic and in persons whose descendants originated from these endemic areas. We report here 4 cases of HAM/TSP in 4 natives from 4 different tribal groups from British Columbia (B.C.). These are the first case reports of HTLV-I linked diseases found among North American Aboriginals. Possible routes of infection for HTLV-I infection included sexual transmission, breast feeding, blood transfusions and IV drug use. The seroprevalence of HTLV-I in North American Native population is unknown and we suggest that it is endemic in this ethnic group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Oger
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Werker
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Foti
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dekaban
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission