HUMAN T-LYMPHOTROPIC VIRUS TYPE-II (HTLV-II) - EPIDEMIOLOGY, MOLECULAR-PROPERTIES, AND CLINICAL-FEATURES OF INFECTION

Human T lymphotropic virus, type II (HTLV-II), infection has been show n to be. endemic in a number of American Indian populations, and high rates of infection have also been documented in intravenous drug abuse rs in urban areas throughout the world, Although the role of HTLV-II i n human disease has yet to be clearly defined, there is accumulating e vidence that like HTLV-I, infection may also be associated with rare l ymphoproliferative and neurological disorders. In this article we revi ew and summarize the epidemiology, molecular properties and clinical f eatures of HTLV-II infection.