What is the difference between HTLV-1 and 2?
HTLV-1 is the causal agent of adult T-cell leukemia and a progressive neurological disorder called HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (12, 34, 54). In contrast, HTLV-2 is essentially nonpathogenic, although a few cases of neurological disease in HTLV-2-infected individuals have been reported.
Is HTLV-1 contagious?
HTLV-1 is spread by blood transfusions, sexual contact and sharing needles. It can also be spread from mother to child during birth or breast-feeding.
How common is HTLV-2?
With an estimated 800,000 infected individuals worldwide, HTLV-2 is far less prevalent than HTLV-1. Most documented HTLV-2 infected individuals are found in the United States (400,000–500,000) highly concentrated in the Native American and intravenous drug user populations.
How common is HTLV-1?
Between 5 million and 20 million people throughout the world are infected with HTLV-1. Infection is most common in parts of southern Japan, the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, South America, Papua New Guinea and central Australia.
Should I be worried about HTLV?
Although a few individuals have severe symptoms, most patients remain asymptomatic throughout their lives and their infections may be unknown to many health professionals. HTLV-1 can be considered a neglected public health problem and there are not many studies specifically on patients’ needs and emotional experiences.
How long can you live with HTLV-1?
For smoldering and chronic ATLL, median survival is estimated to be ∼30 to 55 mo (9), whereas survival is estimated to be 10 mo for the lymphomatous and 8 mo for the acute subtype, respectively (9). Of HTLV-1–infected patients, 0.25 to 3.8% develop HAM/TSP.
Is HTLV-2 serious?
Infection with HTLV-2 is lifelong, but 95% of affected people have no signs or symptoms of the condition. Although HTLV-2 has not been definitively linked with any specific health problems, scientists suspect that some affected people may later develop neurological problems and/or chronic lung infections.
Is HTLV asymptomatic?
Symptoms. Most people with HTLV-1 infection are asymptomatic and do not develop conditions that can be causally linked to the infection. However, several serious diseases are thought to be caused by or strongly associated with the virus.