T-cell lymphoma in a savanna monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) probably related to simian T-cell leukemia virus infection. (1/159)

Lymphoma was seen in an 11-year-old female savanna monkey (Ceropithecus aethiops). The superficial inguinal and visceral lymph nodes were markedly enlarged, and their architecture was completely effaced by neoplastic cells. The neoplastic cells, which were highly pleomorphic, resembled those in adult T-cell lymphoma-leukemia in humans. Ultrastructurally the neoplastic cells were characterized by nuclear irregularity and clustered dense bodies, and almost all cells showed positivity for CD3. The animal had been reared with her family, and her mother and 2 brothers had antibodies reactive to human T-cell leukemia virus. This virus serologically cross-reacts with simian T-cell leukemia virus, which may be the causative agent of the present neoplasm.  (+info)

Genomic evolution, patterns of global dissemination, and interspecies transmission of human and simian T-cell leukemia/lymphotropic viruses. (2/159)

Using both env and long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences, with maximal representation of genetic diversity within primate strains, we revise and expand the unique evolutionary history of human and simian T-cell leukemia/lymphotropic viruses (HTLV/STLV). Based on the robust application of three different phylogenetic algorithms of minimum evolution-neighbor joining, maximum parsimony, and maximum likelihood, we address overall levels of genetic diversity, specific rates of mutation within and between different regions of the viral genome, relatedness among viral strains from geographically diverse regions, and estimation of the pattern of divergence of the virus into extant lineages. Despite broad genomic similarities, type I and type II viruses do not share concordant evolutionary histories. HTLV-I/STLV-I are united through distinct phylogeographic patterns, infection of 20 primate species, multiple episodes of interspecies transmission, and exhibition of a range in levels of genetic divergence. In contrast, type II viruses are isolated from only two species (Homo sapiens and Pan paniscus) and are paradoxically endemic to both Amerindian tribes of the New World and human Pygmy villagers in Africa. Furthermore, HTLV-II is spreading rapidly through new host populations of intravenous drug users. Despite such clearly disparate host populations, the resultant HTLV-II/STLV-II phylogeny exhibits little phylogeographic concordance and indicates low levels of transcontinental genetic differentiation. Together, these patterns generate a model of HTLV/STLV emergence marked by an ancient ancestry, differential rates of divergence, and continued global expansion.  (+info)

Prevalence of serum antibodies against bloodborne and sexually transmitted agents in selected groups in Somalia. (3/159)

Somalia has suffered from a civil war during the last 10 years. In this period the use of whole blood has increased at least twofold in Mogadishu, Somalia compared with pre-war. Screening possibilities are limited. Recent data concerning the prevalence of infections with blood-borne and sexually transmitted agents are not available from this country. To investigate the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1/2) and other blood-borne or sexually transmitted agents we tested a total of 256 serum samples collected in the summer of 1995 from blood donors, hospitalized children and adults in Mogadishu. The hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) carrier rate was 191%, 5.6% and 21.3 % among blood donors, hospitalized children and hospitalized adults, respectively. However, no children under 2 years of age were HbsAg positive. The overall presence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) was 2.4% (6/256). In blood donors this was 0.6% (1/157). In none of the samples tested, antibodies against HIV 1 and 2 or human T-cell lymphotropic viruses (HTLV I and II) were detected. Our results indicate that, during the civil war in Somalia, no evidence of an increase of HIV infections was found. Our findings indicate that preventive measures in Somalia should focus mainly on prevention of HBV-infections. HBV-vaccine could be administered within the framework of the expanded programme on immunization, as none of the children less than 2 years of age were HbsAg positive.  (+info)

Clinical investigation of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex infection in human T lymphotrophic virus type I carriers. (4/159)

BACKGROUND: Little is known about pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection in human T lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV-I) carriers. A study was undertaken to investigate and clarify the characteristics of pulmonary MAC infection in these subjects. METHODS: Twenty nine patients with pulmonary MAC infection without any underlying pulmonary disorder were investigated. The clinical features and radiographic appearance of HTLV-I carriers and non-carriers were compared and the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of these 29 patients and eight normal female control subjects was analysed. RESULTS: The prevalence of the HTLV-I carrier state in patients with pulmonary MAC infection was 34.5% (10/29) compared with 16.7% (529/3169) among all patients admitted to our department between 1994 and 1998 (odds ratio (OR) 2.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21 to 5.68). The HTLV-I carriers were all women and all had clinical symptoms, but they did not show systemic dissemination. Peripheral multifocal bronchiectasis with nodular shadowing was seen frequently on the chest computed tomographic (CT) scans of HTLV-I carriers. The area of the pulmonary lesions was more extensive than in non-carriers (p<0.05). White blood cell (WBC) counts and C reactive protein (CRP) levels on admission were significantly lower in HTLV-I carriers than in non-carriers (WBC: difference (D) = 1565/microl, 95% CI -68.9 to 3198.4/microl; CRP: D = 1.8 mg/dl, 95% CI -0.35 to 3.89 mg/dl). The concentrations of neutrophil elastase (NE) and interleukin (IL)-8 in BAL fluid were significantly higher in HTLV-I carriers than in non-carriers (NE: D = 1342 microg/l, 95% CI 704 to 1980.3 microg/l; IL-8: D = 304.5 pg/ml, 95% CI 89.7 to 519. 4 pg/ml). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary MAC infection causes more diffuse and widespread lesions in HTLV-I carriers than in non-carriers.  (+info)

Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma with lymphopenia in a Korean. (5/159)

We experienced a case of adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) in a 48-year-old Korean female, who has never been abroad since birth and no history of blood transfusion. The patient had hypercalcemia and multiple lymphadenopathy. Histopathologic study of left cervical lymph node (LN) and bone marrow (BM) revealed that infiltrates of malignant lymphoid cells were composed of small, medium and large cells with pleomorphic nuclei. Smears of peripheral blood (PB) showed lymphopenia (16%) with the appearance of a few atypical lymphoid cells (less than 2%), but not the typical clover leaf cells seen in ATLL. Immunophenotypic study of LN and BM revealed T cell phenotype. PB showed increased CD4+ T cell (T(H), CD3/CD4+, 57%) and decreased CD8+ T cell counts (T(S), CD3/CD8+, 6.7%). The sera of the patient and her family were reactive for HTLV-I antibody. The specific sequences of pol, env, and tax of HTLV-I DNA were detected in the lymphoma cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using polymerase chain reaction. Ultrastructural examination of PBMC confirmed numerous type c virus particles in extracellular space. This case was an acute type of ATLL without overt leukemic features in PB. Despite chemotherapy and intensive conservative treatment, she died 3 months after admission.  (+info)

Seroprevalence of HIV and HTLV in a representative sample of the Spanish population. (6/159)

HIV and HTLV seroprevalence was determined by means of unlinked anonymous testing of 2144 sera, originally obtained from primary care patients by representative sampling of the Spanish population aged 15-39 years in 1996. HIV-1 seroprevalence was 4.3 per 1000 population in the 15-39 years age group [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.5-10.7] and 5.6 per 1000 (95% CI, 1.8-15.3) in the 20-39 years age group. Seroprevalence proved higher in males and urban residents. No antibodies to HIV-2 and HTLV-I were detected in any of the sera studied. However, presence of antibodies to HTLV-II was confirmed in one serum sample, while HTLV seroreactivity, though detected in another, could not be typed. The two HTLV-positive results equated to a seroprevalence of 1.9 per 1000 in the 20-39 years age group (95% CI, 0.3-8.6). HIV-I seroprevalence was consistent with previous estimates yielded by back-calculation. The level of HTLV seroprevalence found suggests endemicity.  (+info)

Prevalence of HTLV infection in pregnant women in Spain. (7/159)

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of HTLV infection among pregnant women in Spain. METHODS: A commercial ELISA incorporating HTLV-I and HTLV-II antigens was used for HTLV antibody screening. Repeatedly reactive samples were further examined by western blot. Moreover, confirmation with PCR was performed when cells were available. RESULTS: 20,366 pregnant women in 12 different Spanish cities were tested in a 3 year period (July 1996 to August 1999). 32 samples were repeatedly reactive by ELISA, and 10 of them were confirmed as positive by western blot (eight for HTLV-II and two for HTLV-I). In addition, three of 13 women who had an indeterminate western blot pattern yielded positive results for HTLV-II by PCR. All 11 HTLV-II infected women had been born in Spain, and all but one were former drug users. Seven of them were coinfected with HIV-1. One HTLV-I infected woman was from Peru, where HTLV is endemic and where she most probably was infected during sexual intercourse. CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of HTLV infection among pregnant women in Spain is 0.064% (13/20,366), and HTLV-II instead of HTLV-I is the most commonly found variant. A strong relation was found among HTLV-II infection and specific epidemiological features, such as Spanish nationality and injecting drug use. Although HTLV-II can be vertically transmitted, mainly through breast feeding, both the low prevalence of infection and its lack of pathogenicity would not support the introduction of HTLV antenatal screening in Spain.  (+info)

Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus, HIV and human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma viruses in injecting drug users in Tayside, Scotland, 1993-7. (8/159)

The prevalence of blood-borne viruses in injecting drug users (IDUs) in Tayside, Scotland was determined by testing serum samples from IDUs who underwent attributable HIV antibody testing during 1993-7. The prevalence of antibodies to HIV was 29/802, (3.6%); to hepatitis C virus (HCV) 451/691, (65.3%); and to human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma viruses type 1 and 2 (HTLV) 0/679, (0.0%). The prevalence of HIV and HCV antibodies were higher in subjects over the age of 25 (P = 0.03 and P = 0.001, respectively). During 1993-7 the prevalence of HCV fell only in younger female IDUs (P < 0.01). HIV prevalence has declined dramatically since 1985, when a rate of 40% was recorded in similar populations. Harm reduction measures have failed to control HCV the spread of infection among IDUs in Tayside, as indicated by the high proportion of antibody positive IDUs, particularly males under the age of 25. Future studies should address the nature and effective reduction of continuing risk taking among IDUs in Tayside.  (+info)

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10