Background. The human T-cell lymphotropic virus Type I (HTLV-I) is associated with adult T-cell leukemia and myelopathy, whereas HTLV-II infection has uncertain clinical consequences. We assessed the seroprevalence of these retroviruses among intravenous drug users and among patients seen at clinics for sexually transmitted diseases (STD clinics). METHODS. We used serum samples that were collected in eight cities in 1988 and 1989 during surveys of human immunodeficiency virus infection among intravenous drug users entering treatment and persons seen in STD clinics. The serum samples were tested for antibodies to HTLV, and positive specimens were tested further by a synthetic peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to differentiate between HTLV-I and HTLV-II. RESULTS. Among 3217 intravenous drug users in 29-drug-treatment centers, the median seroprevalence rates of HTLV varied widely according to city (range, 0.4 percent in Atlanta to 17.6 percent in Los Angeles). Seroprevalence increased sharply with age, to 32 percent in persons over 44 years of age. HTLV infection was more common among blacks (15.5 percent) and Hispanics (10.7 percent) than among whites (4.1 percent), and it was strongly associated with a history of heroin injection (P less than or equal to 0.001). Among 5264 patients in 24 STD clinics, the median rates of HTLV infection were much lower (range, 0.1 percent in Atlanta and Newark to 2.0 percent in Los Angeles). Again, this infection was more common among intravenous drug users (7.6 percent) than among non-drug users (0.7 percent). Eighty-four percent of the seropositive samples from drug-treatment centers and 69 percent of those from STD clinics were due to HTLV-II infection (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS. HTLV infections are common among intravenous drug users and are primarily caused by HTLV-II. Among patients seen at STD clinics, HTLV is strongly associated with intravenous drug use, but the retrovirus is also prevalent among non-drug users.
Source Information
Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
This article has been cited by other articles:
Bartman, M. T., Kaidarova, Z., Hirschkorn, D., Sacher, R. A., Fridey, J., Garratty, G., Gibble, J., Smith, J. W., Newman, B., Yeo, A. E., Murphy, E. L., for the HTLV Outcomes Study (HOST) investigators,
(2008). Long-term increases in lymphocytes and platelets in human T-lymphotropic virus type II infection. Blood
112: 3995-4002
[Abstract][Full Text]
Martin-Davila, P., Fortun, J., Lopez-Velez, R., Norman, F., Montes de Oca, M., Zamarron, P., Gonzalez, M. I., Moreno, A., Pumarola, T., Garrido, G., Candela, A., Moreno, S.
(2008). Transmission of Tropical and Geographically Restricted Infections during Solid-Organ Transplantation. Clin. Microbiol. Rev.
21: 60-96
[Abstract][Full Text]
ZUNT, J. R., LA ROSA, A. M., PEINADO, J., LAMA, J. R., SUAREZ, L., PUN, M., CABEZAS, C., SANCHEZ, J.
(2006). Risk factors for HTLV-ii infection in peruvian men who have sex with men.. Am J Trop Med Hyg
74: 922-925
[Abstract][Full Text]
Silverman, L. R., Phipps, A. J., Montgomery, A., Fernandez, S., Tsukahara, T., Ratner, L., Lairmore, M. D.
(2005). In vivo analysis of replication and immunogenicity of proviral clones of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 with selective envelope surface-unit mutations. Blood
106: 3602-3608
[Abstract][Full Text]
Coskun, A. K., Sutton, R. E.
(2005). Expression of Glucose Transporter 1 Confers Susceptibility to Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Envelope-Mediated Fusion. J. Virol.
79: 4150-4158
[Abstract][Full Text]
DE LOS ANGELES PANDO, M., BIGLIONE, M. M., TOSCANO, M. F., REY, J. A., RUSSELL, K. L., NEGRETE, M., GIANNI, S., MARTINEZ-PERALTA, L., SALOMON, H., SOSA-ESTANI, S., MONTANO, S. M., OLSON, J. G., SANCHEZ, J. L., CARR, J. K., AVILA, M. M.
(2004). HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE 1 AND OTHER VIRAL CO-INFECTIONS AMONG YOUNG HETEROSEXUAL MEN AND WOMEN IN ARGENTINA. Am J Trop Med Hyg
71: 153-159
[Abstract][Full Text]
Lewis, M. J., Gautier, V. W., Wang, X.-P., Kaplan, M. H., Hall, W. W.
(2000). Spontaneous Production of C-C Chemokines by Individuals Infected with Human T Lymphotropic Virus Type II (HTLV-II) Alone and HTLV-II/HIV-1 Coinfected Individuals. J. Immunol.
165: 4127-4132
[Abstract][Full Text]
Groves, F. D., Linet, M. S., Travis, L. B., Devesa, S. S.
(2000). Cancer Surveillance Series: Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Incidence by Histologic Subtype in the United States From 1978 Through 1995. JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst
92: 1240-1251
[Abstract][Full Text]
Glynn, S. A., Kleinman, S. H., Schreiber, G. B, Busch, M. P., Wright, D. J., Smith, J. W., Nass, C. C., Williams, A. E., for the Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study,
(2000). Trends in Incidence and Prevalence of Major Transfusion-Transmissible Viral Infections in US Blood Donors, 1991 to 1996. JAMA
284: 229-235
[Abstract][Full Text]
Murphy, E. L., Glynn, S. A., Fridey, J., Smith, J. W., Sacher, R. A., Nass, C. C., Ownby, H. E., Wright, D. J., Nemo, G. J., for the Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study,
(1999). Increased Incidence of Infectious Diseases During Prospective Follow-up of Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type II- and I-Infected Blood Donors. Arch Intern Med
159: 1485-1491
[Abstract][Full Text]
Sloand, E. M., Pitt, E., Klein, H. G.
(1995). Safety of the Blood Supply. JAMA
274: 1368-1373
[Abstract]
O'Connor, P. G., Selwyn, P. A., Schottenfeld, R. S.
(1994). Medical Care for Injection-Drug Users with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. NEJM
331: 450-459
[Full Text]
Schechter, M., Harrison, L. H., Halsey, N. A., Trade, G., Santino, M., Moulton, L. H., Quinn, T. C.
(1994). Coinfection With Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type I and HIV in Brazil: Impact on Markers of HIV Disease Progression. JAMA
271: 353-357
[Abstract]
Hollsberg, P., Hafler, D. A.
(1993). Pathogenesis of Diseases Induced by Human Lymphotropic Virus Type I Infection. NEJM
328: 1173-1182
[Full Text]
Previous
