Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2024 Oct;96(10):e70000.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.70000.

Sexual transmission of HTLV-1 resulting in uveitis with short-term latency and low proviral load

Koju Kamoi  1   2 , Kaoru Uchimaru  2   3 , Yasuhito Nannya  2 , Arinobu Tojo  2   4 , Toshiki Watanabe  2   5 , Kyoko Ohno-Matsui  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Sexual transmission of HTLV-1 resulting in uveitis with short-term latency and low proviral load

Koju Kamoi et al. J Med Virol. 2024 Oct.

Abstract

Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) is traditionally linked to severe conditions such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy, and HTLV-1 uveitis, with vertical transmission, particularly mother to child thorough breastfeeding, considered the primary route. Despite efforts to reduce vertical transmission through antenatal screening in Japan, horizontal transmission has contributed to the rising prevalence of HTLV-1 in metropolitan areas. This case reports the youngest documented instance of HTLV-1 uveitis resulting from horizontal transmission through sexual contact in an 18-year-old woman. The patient presented with blurred vision in her right eye, and a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination identified vitreous opacity and retinal vasculitis. Serological tests confirmed HTLV-1 infection, with a proviral load of 2.66 copies per 100 peripheral blood mononuclear cells, measured by real-time PCR. A differential diagnosis confirmed HTLV-1 uveitis. Further family and partner investigations confirmed horizontal transmission, most likely through sexual contact. Over 6 years of follow-up, the patient experienced multiple recurrences of HTLV-1 uveitis and developed HTLV-1-associated keratopathy. This case highlights the potential for rapid disease progression with relatively low proviral loads and short latency, emphasizing the need for updated public health strategies for sexually active young populations.

Keywords: HTLV‐1; latency; proviral load; sexual transmission; uveitis; young population.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Sampaio GCL, Ribeiro JR, de Almeida CN, et al. Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 global prevalence associated with the human development index: systematic review with meta‐analysis. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2023;39(4):145‐165.
    1. Satake M, Sagara Y, Hamaguchi I. Lower prevalence of anti‐HTLV‐1 as expected by previous models among first‐time blood donors in Japan. J Med Virol. 2023;95(3):e28606.
    1. Satake M, Iwanaga M, Sagara Y, Watanabe T, Okuma K, Hamaguchi I. Incidence of human t‐lymphotropic virus 1 infection in adolescent and adult blood donors in Japan: a nationwide retrospective cohort analysis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2016;16(11):1246‐1254.
    1. Sagara Y, Nakamura H, Satake M, Watanabe T, Hamaguchi I. Increasing horizontal transmission of human T‐cell leukemia virus type 1 in adolescents and young adults in Japan. J Clin Virol. 2022;157:105324.
    1. Kamoi K. HTLV‐1 in ophthalmology. Front Microbiol. 2020;11:388.

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources