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Serological and molecular evidence of infection by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II in Italian drug addicts by use of synthetic peptides and polymerase chain reaction

1991; Pergamon Press; Volume: 27; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0277-5379(91)90128-z

1878-5980

Anita De Rossi, Fabrizio Mammano, Annarosa Del Mistro, Luigi Chieco‐Bianchi,

Vector-Borne Animal Diseases

Infection with human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is associated with specific forms of tumours and neurological disorders, but the pathogenic activity of HTLV-II is not yet established. Moreover, due to high crossreactivity between the two viruses, differential diagnosis is not readily achieved. To discriminate between HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections, we employed synthetic peptides specific for HTLV-I and HTLV-II env regions, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In a series of 962 intravenous drug addicts (IVDAs) and 50 patients with haematological malignancies, 51 and 2 samples, respectively, were reactive against HTLV-I proteins; among these, HTLV-I infection was confirmed only in 1 patient with adult T-cell lymphoma, while HTLV-II infections were identified in 6 out of 14 PCR-tested IVDAs. These findings provide evidence of HTLV-II infection among Italian IVDAs. The differentiation between HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections may contribute to a better understanding of HTLV-II pathogenicity in man.