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19001717 · Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type I and II are closely related retroviruses.
· HTLV-I has A-F subtypes, while HTLV-II has two subtypes, A and B.
· HTLV is transmitted from mother-to-child through breast feeding, between intravenous drug users by needle sharing, by hetero- or homosexual intercourse and contaminated blood products. Transmission by blood products is strictly cell-associated; the virus is not transmitted by plasma or plasma-derived products.
· HTLV is implicated in the development of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), which are generally severe and progressively incapacitating diseases.
· The disease type correlates with the route of infection; breastfeeding has been associated with ATL, and HAM/TSP with blood transfusion.
· The HTLV-I/II assay is used for screening of blood donors to ensure the safety of blood products and for diagnosis of HTLV infection.
· This test is for the in vitro qualitative determination of antibodies to HTLV-I/II in human serum.
