Letter to the Editor Reappraisal of Human Retroviral Infection in Venezuela

Abstract

Two major groups of retroviruses, whose distribution varies geographically, are the cause of several human diseases. The human T- Iymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is the etiologic agent for both adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and HTLV-I- associated myelopathy. HTLV-II has been linked to a certain type of hairy cell leukemia; however, its role in disease remains uncertain. HTLV-I is endemic in Japan, the Caribbean. And Africa; while both HTLV-I and HTLV-II have been reported in the United States and Italy, predominantly among intravenous drug abusers. Recently, HTLV-II infection has been demonstrated among certain American Indian groups in the United States and Panama.