DETECTION AND ISOLATION OF HUMAN T-CELL LEUKEMIA-LYMPHOMA VIRUS TYPE-I (HTLV-I) FROM CULTURED LYMPHOCYTES OF A BRAZILIAN TSP HAM PATIENT/

Same Brazilian regions are considered to be endemic for human T-cell l eukemia/lymphoma virus type I (HTLV-I) infection. Several studies have shown a high prevalence of HTLV-I infection among different groups su ch as blood donors, hemophiliacs and patients suffering from hematolog ical and neurological diseases. Cases of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphom a as well as tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) have already been described in Brazil. We report the isolat ion of an HTLV-I strain from cultured lymphocytes of a TSP/HAM patient . An IL-2-dependent HTLV-I-infected T-cell line (ROB) expressing viral antigens was established and reverse transcriptase activity could be detected in the culture supernatant. Ultrastructural analysis showed i mmature and mature HTLV retrovirus particles. Finally, HTLV-I provirus type I was demonstrated by the polymerase chain reaction. This is the first isolation completely carried out in Latin America. The molecula r analysis of viral strains, now in progress, should clarify the molec ular epidemiology of HTLV-I in Brazil.