Detection of a Major Gene Predisposing to Human T Lymphotropic Virus Type I Infection in Children among an Endemic Population of African Origin

Abstract

Human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is a human oncoretrovirus that causes an adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma and a chronic neuromyelopathy. To investigate whether familial aggregation of HTLV-I infection (as determined by specific seropositive status) could be explained in part by genetic factors, we conducted a large genetic epidemiological survey in an HTLV-I-endemic population of African origin from French Guiana. All of the families in 2 villages were included, representing 83 pedigrees with 1638 subjects, of whom 165 (10.1%) were HTLV-I seropositive. The results of segregation analysis are consistent with the presence of a dominant major gene predisposing to HTLV-I infection, in addition to the expected familial correlations (mother-offspring, spouse-spouse) due to the virus transmission routes. Under this genetic model, approximately 1. 5% of the population is predicted to be highly predisposed to HTLV-I infection, and almost all seropositive children <10 years of age are genetic cases, whereas most HTLV-I seropositive adults are sporadic cases.

Predictive Factors of HTLV1-HIV Coinfections in French Guiana

“…5,10,12 Surinamese nationals appeared more infected with HTLV1. This is explained by the epidemiology of HTLV1 in French Guiana where the maroon populations are most affected with this infection, 6,13 living mostly on the Maroni river, which marks the border with Suriname. It is noteworthy that Haitian nationals, or other nationalities from the Caribbean, were not more at risk, although HTLV1 prevalence is high in these countries.…”

“…5 In French Guiana, HTLV1 is generally transmitted through breastfeeding and sexual relations. 6 The HTLV1-HIV coinfections are frequent in endemic regions for these two retroviruses.…”

The genetic diversity of three peculiar populations descending from the slave trade: Gm study of Noir Marron from French Guiana

“…These samples comprising 88 plasma from Djuka, 47 from Aluku, and 42 from Saramaka were collected during former collaborative studies on such populations living in Saint-Laurent du Maroni and Maripasoula/Papaichton in the Maroni river area [33][34][35]. The location of these populations is shown in Fig.…”

Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus types I and II (HTLV-I/II) in French Guiana: clinical and molecular epidemiology

“…To investigate whether familial aggregation of HTLV-I infection (as determined by specific seropositive status) could be explained in part by genetic factors, Plancoulaine et al (2000) conducted a large genetic epidemiological survey in the same area. All the families in the villages of Maripasoula and Papaichton were included, representing 1,638 subjects in 83 pedigrees, of whom 165 (10.1%) were HTLV-I seropositive.…”