Quantification of HTLV-II proviral copies by competitive polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Italian injecting drug users, Central Africans, and Amerindians

Precise measurements of the amount of human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) and type II (HTLV-II) may now be possible with the use of a new competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Researchers used the test to measure the amount of HTLV-II in 11 Italian intravenous drug users infected with the virus and in 10 HTLV-II positive Amerindians and Central Africans from groups among whom HTLV-II is thought to be a native disease. The amount of virus in all 21 individuals varied greatly. HTLV-II positive patients who were also HIV type 1 positive had varying amounts of HTLV-II. The variations in amount of HTLV-II were determined not to be associated with native area, age, or sex. HTLV-II may have cloned itself in patients with large amounts of the virus.