Distribution of Two Subgroups of Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) in Endemic Japan

Masashi Otani; Noritaka Honda; Pin-Cang Xia; Katsuyuki Eguchi; Tatsuki Ichikawa; Toshiki Watanabe; Kazunari Yamaguchi; Kazuhiko Nakao; Taro Yamamoto

doi:10.2149/tmh.2012-02

Original articles

Distribution of Two Subgroups of Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) in Endemic Japan

Masashi Otani, Noritaka Honda, Pin-Cang Xia, Katsuyuki Eguchi, Tatsuki Ichikawa, Toshiki Watanabe, Kazunari Yamaguchi, Kazuhiko Nakao, Taro Yamamoto

Author information

Masashi Otani
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University
Noritaka Honda
School of Medicine, Nagasaki University
Pin-Cang Xia
Department of International Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), the Global Center of Excellence, Nagasaki University
Katsuyuki Eguchi
Department of International Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), the Global Center of Excellence, Nagasaki University
Tatsuki Ichikawa
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University
Toshiki Watanabe
Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo
Kazunari Yamaguchi
Department of Safety Research on Blood and Biological Products, National Institute of Infectious Diseases
Kazuhiko Nakao
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University
Taro Yamamoto
Department of International Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), the Global Center of Excellence, Nagasaki University

Keywords: Japanese subgroup, transcontinental subgroup, human migration, Kuroshio Current

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS FULL-TEXT HTML

2012 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 55-58

DOI https://ntrd-jsjc-gov-cn-s-1416.res.gxlib.org.cn:443/rwt/1416/https/MSYXTLUQPJUB/10.2149/tmh.2012-02

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Abstract

Endemic areas of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) have been reported in Japan as well as tropical Africa, Central and South America and Melanesia. The existence of two subgroups, i.e., the transcontinental and Japanese subgroups, was reported in Japan. In the present study, we provide data on the ratio of the two subgroups in each endemic area and infection foci and examine the distribution of HTLV-1 in Japan and neighboring areas. A 657 bp fragment of env region of HTLV-1 proviral genome was successfully amplified for 183 HTLV-1 positive DNA samples. The subgroup determination was done by RFLP reactions using endonucleases HpaI and HinfI. The northern part of mainland Kyushu, represented by Hirado and Kumamoto, was monopolized by the Japanese subgroup, while the transcontinental subgroup ranged from 20 to 35% in the Pacific coast areas of Shikoku (Kochi), the Ryukyu Archipelago (Kakeroma and Okinawa) and Taiwan. An interesting finding in the present study is the presence of the transcontinental subgroup in Kochi, suggesting the endemicity of the transcontinental subgroup along the Kuroshio Current.

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