DETECTION OF PROVIRAL HUMAN T-CELL LYMPHOTROPHIC VIRUS TYPE-I DNA IN MOUTHWASH SAMPLES OF HAM TSP PATIENTS AND HTLV-I CARRIERS/

Human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV-I), is a member of the o ncogenic retroviruses family endemic in several parts of the world and also recently identified in the Jewish Mashhadi population who immigr ated from Iran to Israel. The virus is the causative agent of adult T- cell leukemia (ATL) and a chronic myelopathy known both as tropical sp astic paraparesis (TSP) or HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM). The kno wn modes of HTLV-I transmission are by sexual intercourse, from mother to child in breast milk, via blood transfusion, and by sharing of nee dles by parenteral drug users. In the present study we examined the pr esence of HTLV-I provirus genomic DNA by nested polymerase chain react ion (PCR) and by DNA hybridization in mouthwash samples obtained from 13 Mashhadi-born Iranian Jews with spastic paraparesis associated with HTLV-I, 4 Mashhadi-born Iranian Jews asymptomatic carriers for HTLV-I and 21 healthy controls. Proviral HTLV-I DNA was detected by mouthwas h PCR in 12 of 17 HTLV-I infected subjects (71%) but in none of 21 con trols. Proviral DNA was also detected in mouthwash samples using HTLV- I probe by dot blot hybridization assay. The presence of HTLV-I provir al DNA in whole saliva may suggest a possible transmission of the viru s via saliva and explain the increased rate of infection in elderly Ma shhadi-Jewish population.