Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 molecular variants, Vanuatu, Melanesia

Emerg Infect Dis. 2005 May;11(5):706-10. doi: 10.3201/eid1105.041015.

Abstract

Four of 391 Ni-Vanuatu women were infected with variants of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Melanesian subtype C. These strains had env nucleotide sequences approximately 99% similar to each other and diverging from the main molecular subtypes of HTLV-1 by 6% to 9%. These strains were likely introduced during ancient human population movements in Melanesia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation
  • HTLV-I Infections / epidemiology*
  • HTLV-I Infections / virology
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Phylogeny
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Vanuatu / epidemiology