HTLV-1 IN MOUTHWASH CELLS FROM A TSP HAM PATIENT AND ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIERS/

Using in situ hybridization, the presence of T-cell lymphotrophic viru s type I (HTLV-I) was shown in blood lymphocytes of one tropical spast ic paraparesis (TSP/HAM) patient and in two asymptomatic carriers. HTL V-I was also detected in epithelial cells derived from mouthwash of th e TSP/HAM patient. Mouthwash of one of the carriers showed an infected lymphocyte while mouthwash of the other carrier was negative. The inf ected epithelial cells stained both in the nucleus and in the cytoplas m, which indicated the presence of the virus in both subcellular compa rtments. Our observations suggest that saliva cells, lymphocytes and e pithelial cells, may potentially participate in oral transmission of H TLV-I.