HTLV-II infection in Florida Indians

A significantly increased prevalence of antibodies to human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) has been described in several native American populations in the United States and Latin America. Initial virologic studies indicate that HTLV-II is the predominant virus responsible for this antibody pattern. We obtained blood samples from 106 Seminole Indians living on four reservations in Southern Florida. Seropositivity to HTLV-I/II was found in 14 (13.2%) of these individuals. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) documented HTLV-II and the absence of HTLV-I in 7 of the 9 donors available for follow-up testing of white blood cells. Evaluation of various risk factors excluded blood transfusion or intravenous drug use as an important contributing factor to the HTLV-II seroprevalence rate. These studies support the hypothesis that HTLV-II is endemic in many native American tribes in the Western hemisphere.