Human T Cell Lymphotropic Virus Infection in Guaymi Indians from Panama

Frequency of adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma and HTLV-I in Ibadan, Nigeria

“…Furthermore, p19 bands were absent in a significant portion of samples, including 50% and 58.8% respectively of normal blood donors and patients whose Western blots profiles otherwise satisfied the criteria of seropositivity. This circumstance is reminiscent of our previous reports from Panama where ATL is infrequent compared to expected, based on background HTLV seroprevalence (Lairmore et al, 1990;Reeves et al, 1990). This paradox was recently explained by studies which demonstrated the frequent occurrence of HTLV-II in the Panamanian population (Lairmore et al, 1990) where, as pointed out by Wiktor et al (1990), a hallmark of HTLV-II reactivity is a diminished or absent p19 band compared to p24.…”

Isolation of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 2 from Guaymi Indians in Panama.

“…Antibody was found almost exclusively in subjects 15 yr old and older (16% seropositivity), there was no evidence for household clustering of infection, and neither hematologic nor neurologic diseases usually associated with HTLV infection were identified (13). Furthermore, serum specimens from these HTLV-seropositive persons demonstrated weak immunoreactivity to envelope antigens of HTLV-I compared with the seroreactivity of HTLV-I seropositive controls (13).…”

“…Recent population-based seroepidemiologic studies revealed that 8% of 337 Guaymi Indians residing in Bocas del Toro Province, Republic of Panama, had antibody against HTLV (12,13). Antibody was found almost exclusively in subjects 15 yr old and older (16% seropositivity), there was no evidence for household clustering of infection, and neither hematologic nor neurologic diseases usually associated with HTLV infection were identified (13).…”

“…Briefly, the Guaymi subjects studied were individuals who migrated to Changuinola, Bocas del Toro Province, Panama to seek employment at a banana plantation. During the seroepidemiologic studies (12,13) Table 1. Serum samples were tested for HTLV antibody by using commercial enzyme immunoabsorbant assay (DuPont) according to the manufacturer's recommendations.…”

“…11 MATERIALS AND METHODS Guaymi Indian Subjects. Demographic, cultural, and HTLV serologic information regarding the Guaymi Indians have been reported (12)(13)(14). Briefly, the Guaymi subjects studied were individuals who migrated to Changuinola, Bocas del Toro Province, Panama to seek employment at a banana plantation.…”