To clarify the existence of HAM/TSP presenting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-like manifestations, we assayed HTLV-I proviral load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in 15 patients with anti-HTLV-I antibody in serum and ALS-like manifestations (upper motor neuron involvement in at least one region and lower motor neuron involvement in at least two limbs) by quantitative PCR, and ...

A high human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) proviral load is described in HTLV-1-associated diseases, especially HAM/TSP. However, the cut-off value to define high levels of HTLV-1 proviral load is not well established. 281 HTLV-1-infected patients from the HTLV reference center in Salvador, Brazil, were followed from 2005 to 2008. Patients were classified as asymptomatic, possible-,...

BACKGROUND Cross-sectional studies support sexual transmission of human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I/II; however, prospective incidence data, particularly for HTLV-II, are limited. METHODS A cohort of 85 HTLV-positive (30 with HTLV-I and 55 with HTLV-II) blood donors and their stable (>or=6 months) heterosexual sex partners were followed biannually over the course of a 10-year period. RESU...

The ocular manifestation of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection has been recognized as a new clinical entity termed HTLV-I uveitis. In order to determine whether HTLV-I uveitis is associated with lymphocyte alveolitis, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was carried out in 11 patients with HTLV-I uveitis, five asymptomatic HTLV-I carriers, 11 HTLV-I-negative patients with ocular ...

To evaluate the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) proviral DNA load among asymptomatic HTLV-I-infected carriers and patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), real time PCR using TaqMan probes for the pol gene was performed in two million peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The albumin gene was the internal genomic control and MT2 cel...

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is associated with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and has also been implicated in several disorders, including periodontal disease. The proviral load is an important biological marker for understanding HTLV-1 pathogenesis and elucidating whether or not the virus is related to the clin...

In the present study, the frequency, the activation and the cytokine and chemokine profile of HTLV-1 carriers with or without dermatological lesions were thoroughly described and compared. The results indicated that HTLV-1-infected patients with dermatological lesions have distinct frequency and activation status when compared to asymptomatic carriers. Alterations in the CD4(+)HLA-DR(+), CD8(+)...

Introduction: HTLV-1 infection increases susceptibility to other infections. Few studies have addressed the co-infection between HPV and HTLV-1 and the immune response involved in this interaction. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cervical HPV infection in HTLV-1-infected women and to establish the risk factors involved in this co-infection. Methods: A cross-sectional st...

Human T lymphocyte virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated chronic inflammatory neurological disease (HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis [HAM/TSP]) is suggested to be an immunopathologically mediated disorder characterized by large numbers of HTLV-I Tax-specific CD8+ T cells. The frequency of these cells in the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid is proportional to the amou...

OBJECTIVE(S) HTLV-I and HIV virus quantification is an important marker for assessment of virus activities. Since there is a direct relationship between the number of virus and disease progression, HTLV-I and HIV co-infection might have an influence on the development of viral associated diseases, thus, viral replication of these viruses and co-infection were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS ...