title: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I infection in Barbados: results of a 20-year follow-up study.
abstract: Forty-one human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1)-seropositive individuals were identified among 1,012 subjects with stored serum samples from a health and seroepidemiological survey conducted in Barbados in 1972. These 41 subjects plus 79 HTLV-1 seronegative household members were targeted in a follow-up study 20 years later. Sixteen seropositive subjects and 22 seronegative subjects were interviewed, examined, and phlebotomized. There were no changes in HTLV-1 serostatus between the 1972 and follow-up serum samples. Three (19%) of the seropositive subjects had HTLV-1-associated disorders: two with dermatitis and one with "smoldering" adult T-cell leukemia. Neurologic and immunologic function was similar in HTLV-1-seropositive and HTLV-1-seronegative subjects. HTLV-1 antibodies persist over many years, and the risk for seroconversion of household contacts is low.
authors: Viral Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20852, USA.
authors: C S
authors: CS
authors: Rabkin
authors: D O
authors: DO
authors: Corbin
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Felton
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Barker
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Davison
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Dearden
authors: W A
authors: WA
authors: Blattner
authors: A S
authors: AS
authors: Evans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001460:Barbados / Q000453:epidemiology; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies