Phylogenetic analysis of human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 isolated from Cuban individuals.

The presence of infection by human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) in Cuba has been previously documented. However, genetic information on the strains that circulate in the Cuban people remains unknown. The present work constitutes the first study of phylogenetic relationship of HTLV-1 Cuban isolates. Twelve Cuban patients who were diagnosed with HTLV-1 infection and had different clinical manifestations were studied. The 3' LTR sequences were analyzed for the construction of a phylogenetic tree with reference sequences of HTLV-1 of different geographic origins. Phylogenetic analysis of the 3' LTR gene showed that all the Cuban samples clustered in the Transcontinental subgroup of the Cosmopolitan subtype. Phylogenetic analysis suggests multiple introductions of HTLV-1 in Cuba as well as a possible African origin of the samples. The results of the study will reinforce the program of epidemic surveillance of the infection in Cuba.