title: Inability to detect human T cell lymphotropic virus type 2-specific antibodies in a patient coinfected with HIV-1, human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1, human T cell lymphotropic virus type 2, and hepatitis C virus.
abstract: HIV-1, human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and type 2 (HTLV-1 and HTLV-2) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are common among intravenous drug users (IDUs) and can cause chronic infections in the host. Usually, the diagnosis of such viruses employs serological assays; however, some difficulties in confirming HTLV-2 infection have been reported in high-risk populations in Brazil. We present data of an unusual case of coinfection with HIV-1, HTLV-1, HTLV-2, and HCV in a male IDU in which HTLV-2 was detected only by molecular assays. Comparative analysis of retroviruses from 2002 and 2012 showed identical HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 sequences (LTR, env, and tax), and a change in HIV-1 tropism from CXCR4 to CCR5. No mutation was detected in the hot points of the env region of the HTLV-2 isolate that justified the lack of rgp46-II-specific antibodies. These data emphasize the need for molecular assays to diagnose HTLV-2 in high-risk populations in Brazil.
authors.affiliation: 1 Centro de Imunologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz , Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, S.P., Brazil .
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caterino-de-Araujo
authors.forename: Mariana Cavalheiro
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Magri
authors.forename: Neuza Satomi
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Helena Kaminami
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Luis Fernando de Macedo
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Brigido
authors.forename: Arilson Akira
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Morimoto
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001938:Brazil; D060085:Coinfection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000821:virology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral