What does HTLV stand for?

Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection is associated with certain rare diseases of T lymphocytes (T-cells), a type of white blood cell that is an important part of the body’s immune system.

What is HTLV 1ab?

The human T-lymphotropic virus, human T-cell lymphotropic virus, or human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus (HTLV) family of viruses are a group of human retroviruses that are known to cause a type of cancer called adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and a demyelinating disease called HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical …

Is HTLV a cancer?

In humans, HTLV-1 is transmitted through breastfeeding, transplacentally, sexually and by blood transfusion and organ transplants and is known to cause a lethal cancer, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL).

Is HTLV 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.

Is there a cure for HTLV-2?

HTLV-2 is spread by blood transfusions, sexual contact and sharing needles. It can also be spread from mother to child during birth or breast-feeding. There is no cure or treatment for HTLV-2 and it is considered a lifelong condition; however, most infected people remain asymptomatic (show no symptoms) throughout life.

How to test for HTLV 1 and 2?

Values are valid only on day of printing. Qualitative screening detection of human T-cell lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/-2) specific antibodies with confirmation and differentiation between HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 infection

What kind of leukemia virus is HTLV-2?

Summary Summary. Human T-cell leukemia virus, type 2 (HTLV-2) is a retroviral infection that affect the T cells (a type of white blood cell).

Where does the HTLV-1 virus come from?

The HTLVs are believed to originate from interspecies transmission of STLVs. The HTLV-1 genome is diploid, composed of two copies of a single-stranded RNA virus whose genome is copied into a double-stranded DNA form that integrates into the host cell genome, at which point the virus is referred to as a provirus.

Are there any cases of HTLV 2 in the UK?

However, there are no recent data on the prevalence of HTLV-2 in people who inject drugs in the UK. HTLV-2 is less frequently associated with disease than HTLV-1 and, where disease does occur, it is generally milder. However, there is currently little information available about the role of HTLV-2 in disease.