HTLV in the Americas: challenges and perspectives
Rev. panam. salud p£blica
; 19(1): 44-53, Jan. 2006. tab
Article
in English
| MedCarib
| ID: med-17317
Responsible library:
TT5
Localization: TT5; W1 RE712AW
ABSTRACT
The first description of the human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) was made in 1980 followed closely by the discovery of HTLV-2, in 1982. Since then, the main characteristics of these viruses, commonly referred to as HTLV-1/2, have been thoroughly studied. Central and South America and the Caribbean are areas of high prevalence of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 and have clusters of infected people. The major modes of transmission have been through sexual contact, blood, and mother to child via breast-feeding. HTLV-1 is associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), and HTLV-associated uveitis as well as infectious dermatitis of children. More clarification is needed in the possible role of HTLV in rheumatological, psychiatric and infectious diseases. Since cures for ATL and HAM/TSP are lacking and no vaccine is available to prevent HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 transmission, these illnesses impose enormous social and financial cost on infected individuals, their families, and health care systems. For this reason, public health interventions aimed at counseling and educating high-risk individuals and populations are of vital importance. In the Americas this is especially important in the areas of high prevalence(AU)
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Collection:
International databases
Database:
MedCarib
Main subject:
Retroviridae
/
Blood Donors
/
Americas
/
Human T-lymphotropic virus 1
/
Human T-lymphotropic virus 2
/
Preventive Medicine
/
Caribbean Region
Type of study:
Risk factors
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Rev. panam. salud p£blica
Year:
2006
Document type:
Article
Institution/Affiliation country:
FundaÆo Hemominas/Brazil
/
FundaÆo Oswaldo Cruz/Brazil
/
Hemocentro de SÆo Paulo+Brazil
/
Hospital San Rogue/Argentina
/
National Institutes of Health/United States of America
/
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia/Peru
/
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais/Brazil
/
Universidade Federal do Cear /Brazil
/
University of Carlifornia/United States of America