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Review
. 2025 Mar 20;17(3):446.
doi: 10.3390/v17030446.

Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV 1/2) in Ecuador: Time for Action

Miguel Angel Garcia-Bereguiain  1 , Solon Alberto Orlando  2   3 , Melissa Joseth Carvajal Capa  4 , Manuel Gonzalez  2   5
Affiliations
Review

Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV 1/2) in Ecuador: Time for Action

Miguel Angel Garcia-Bereguiain et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

The human T-cell lymphotropic viruses of type 1 and 2 (HTLV 1/2) are retroviruses with estimations of 10 million people infected worldwide. HTLV 1/2 viruses are endemic in South America where Indigenous and Afro American populations are considered of high risk. Although several case reports of HTLV 1/2 associated pathologies and some prevalence studies have been reported in Ecuador, the country lacks a national surveillance and control program, and no screening of blood or organ donors is currently done. We discuss the problems associated to HTLV 1/2 in Ecuador and propose a strategy to improve a surveillance and control program.

Keywords: Ecuador; HTLV 1; HTLV 2; surveillance.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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