Abstract
Earlier virologic studies established that human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II (HTLVII) is the predominant retrovirus type found among Seminole Indians in southern Florida. We studied 46 members of the Seminole tribe living on 3 reservations to determine the risk factors for HTLV-II and to investigate disease association with the virus. The donors' plasma samples were evaluated with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent and Western blot assays. DNA extracted from their peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by type-specific polymerase chain reaction amplification and detection of the HTLV pol gene using the primer pair SK110/SK111, and the probes SK112 or SK188. One of 46 (2%) subjects was identified as HTLV-I positive and 11 (24%) were identified as HTLV-II positive. Restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequence analyses indicated that all of the HTLV-II strains were subtype b. Mitochondrial DNA analyses indicated that all of the HTLV-II-positive subjects had an Amerindian haplotype. HTLV-II was more prevalent in Indians who were >45 years of age or female, had multiple sex partners or had received a blood transfusion. However, only the latter risk factor was statistically significant. Three of the HTLV-II-positive Indians demonstrated signs and symptoms of an ataxic neuropathy. The data support that HTLV-IIb is endemic among the Seminoles and that they will be a key population for further virologic studies.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 37-47 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Neuroepidemiology |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Haplotypes
- Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II
- Mitochondrial DNA
- Polymerase chain reaction
- Restriction fragment length polymorphism
- Risk factors
- Seminole Indians
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Clinical Neurology