HUMAN T-CELL LYMPHOTROPIC VIRUS TYPE-I INFECTION IN BARBADOS - RESULTS OF A 20-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Forty-one human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1)-seropositive individuals were identified among 1,012 subjects with stored serum sa mples from a health and seroepidemiological survey conducted in Barbad os in 1972. These 41 subjects plus 79 HTLV-1 seronegative household, m embers were targeted in a follow-up study 20 years later. Sixteen sero positive subjects and 22 seronegative subjects were interviewed, exami ned, and phlebotomized. There were no changes in HTLV-1 serostatus bet ween the 1972 and follow-up serum samples. Three (19%) of the seroposi tive subjects had HTLV-1-associated disorders: two with dermatitis and one with ''smoldering'' adult T-cell leukemia. Neurologic and immunol ogic function was similar in HTLV-1-seropositive and HTLV-1-seronegati ve subjects. HTLV-1 antibodies persist over many years, and the risk f or seroconversion of household contacts is low.