Human T-lymphotropic virus type I infection.
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is the first human retrovirus to be associated with malignant disease--namely, adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma. HTLV-I has also been associated with several non-malignant conditions, notably the chronic neurodegenerative disorder, HTLV-I associated myelopathy (also known as tropical spastic paraparesis), infective dermatitis of children and uveitis. More recent evidence points to disease associations not previously linked to HTLV-I. Thus, the disease spectrum of HTLV-I is not fully known. HTLV-I has a worldwide distribution with major endemic foci in the Caribbean and southern Japan. The public health importance is confirmed by the major routes of transmission, which are mother-to-child, blood transfusion, and sexual activity. Unfortunately, no vaccine is available yet and there is no proven treatment for advanced HTLV-I disease.
Manns
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A
Viral Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA. mannsa@epndce.nci.nih.gov
Hisada
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M
La Grenade
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L
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D015415:Biomarkers