Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) primarily infects two different populations in which the virus is transmitted in very diverse ways. In endemically infected populations, the virus is propagated through sexual contact, and by mother to child transmission via breast-feeding, among intravenous drug users (IDUs), spread is mainly due to blood-borne transmission via needle sharing. ...

A typical person infected with the retrovirus human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) carries tens of thousands of clones of HTLV-1-infected T lymphocytes, each clone distinguished by a unique integration site of the provirus in the host genome. However, only 5% of infected people develop the malignant disease adult T cell leukaemia/lymphoma, usually more than 50 years after becoming infecte...

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) can cause adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL). Two patients originating from the Caribbean area with ATLL are described. The first patient developed respiratory insufficiency due to acute T-cell leukaemia. The diagnosis was suspected because of characteristics of abnormal lymphocytes in the blood smear. The second patient had lymphadenopathy an...