Journal of Neuroinfectious Diseases
Open Access

T Cell Lymphotropic Virus: An Overview

Matthew S. Lebowitz^*

Department of neurology, Binghamton University, United States

Received Date: Nov 01, 2024 / Published Date: Nov 29, 2024

Citation: Lebowitz MS (2024) T Cell Lymphotropic Virus: An Overview. J Neuroinfect Dis 15: 535.DOI: 10.4172/2314-7326.1000535

Copyright: © 2024 Lebowitz MS. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

To read the full article Peer-reviewed Article PDF | Peer-reviewed Full Article

T Cell Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV), particularly Human T-lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV-I and HTLV-II), is a retrovirus associated with significant hematological disorders, most notably adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM). HTLV-I was first identified in the early 1980s and has since been linked to various diseases, affecting millions globally, with a prevalence concentrated in specific geographic regions such as Japan, the Caribbean, and parts of Africa.Transmission of HTLV occurs primarily through three routes: vertical transmission from mother to child during childbirth or breastfeeding, sexual contact, and parenteral exposure via contaminated needles, particularly among intravenous drug users. The virus predominantly infects CD4+ T lymphocytes, leading to their proliferation and transformation due to the viral protein Tax, which disrupts normal cellular processes. This can result in severe clinical manifestations, including ATLL, characterized by lymphadenopathy, skin lesions, and systemic symptoms, as well as TSP/HAM, a progressive neurological condition causing weakness and spasticity. Diagnosis of HTLV infection typically involves serological testing to detect antibodies against the virus, with methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis being the most common. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing may also be utilized for definitive diagnosis. While no cure currently exists for HTLV infection, treatment strategies focus on managing associated conditions, with chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation for ATLL and supportive care for TSP/HAM.