BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional studies support sexual transmission of human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I/II; however, prospective incidence data, particularly for HTLV-II, are limited. METHODS: A cohort of 85 HTLV-positive (30 with HTLV-I and 55 with HTLV-II) blood donors and their stable (>or=6 months) heterosexual sex partners were followed biannually over the course of a 10-year period. RESULTS: Four of 85 initially seronegative sex partners of HTLV-I and -II carriers seroconverted, for an incidence rate (IR) of 0.6 transmissions/100 person-years (py) (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2-1.6). This includes 2 HTLV-I transmissions/219 py (IR, 0.9 transmissions/100 py [95% CI, 0.1-3.3]) and 2 HTLV-II transmissions/411 py (IR, 0.5 transmissions/100 py [95% CI, 0.06-1.8]), with no significant difference by HTLV type. There were 2 male-to-female (IR, 1.2 transmissions/100 py [95% CI, 0.1-4.3]) and 2 female-to-male (IR, 0.4 transmissions/100 py [95% CI, 0.05-1.6) transmissions. HTLV-I or -II proviral load was 2 log10 lower in newly infected partners than in index positive partners who transmitted HTLV (P=.007). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of sexual transmission of HTLV-II may be similar to that of HTLV-I, and female-to-male transmission may play a more important role than previously thought. HTLV-I and -II proviral load may be lower in sexually acquired infection, because of a small infectious dose.
BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional studies support sexual transmission of human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I/II; however, prospective incidence data, particularly for HTLV-II, are limited. METHODS: A cohort of 85 HTLV-positive (30 with HTLV-I and 55 with HTLV-II) blood donors and their stable (>or=6 months) heterosexual sex partners were followed biannually over the course of a 10-year period. RESULTS: Four of 85 initially seronegative sex partners of HTLV-I and -II carriers seroconverted, for an incidence rate (IR) of 0.6 transmissions/100 person-years (py) (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2-1.6). This includes 2 HTLV-I transmissions/219 py (IR, 0.9 transmissions/100 py [95% CI, 0.1-3.3]) and 2 HTLV-II transmissions/411 py (IR, 0.5 transmissions/100 py [95% CI, 0.06-1.8]), with no significant difference by HTLV type. There were 2 male-to-female (IR, 1.2 transmissions/100 py [95% CI, 0.1-4.3]) and 2 female-to-male (IR, 0.4 transmissions/100 py [95% CI, 0.05-1.6) transmissions. HTLV-I or -II proviral load was 2 log10 lower in newly infected partners than in index positive partners who transmitted HTLV (P=.007). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of sexual transmission of HTLV-II may be similar to that of HTLV-I, and female-to-male transmission may play a more important role than previously thought. HTLV-I and -II proviral load may be lower in sexually acquired infection, because of a small infectious dose.
Authors: Joseph R Zunt; Alberto M La Rosa; Jesús Peinado; Javier R Lama; Luis Suarez; Monica Pun; Cesar Cabezas; Jorge Sanchez Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2006-05 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Jorge O Alarcón; Heidi B Friedman; Silvia M Montano; Joseph R Zunt; King K Holmes; Gerald V Quinnan Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2006-08-15 Impact factor: 3.731
Authors: A B F Carneiro-Proietti; M S Amaranto-Damasio; C F Leal-Horiguchi; R H C Bastos; G Seabra-Freitas; D R Borowiak; M A Ribeiro; F A Proietti; A S D Ferreira; M L Martins Journal: J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc Date: 2014-09 Impact factor: 3.164