Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) confirmed by PCR-Southern blot and sequencing analysis in a woman with tropical spastic paraparesis.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)
is a human retrovirus and the aetiological agent of a progressive
neurological disease called tropical spastic paraparesis/
HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM), as confirmed
by evidence accumulated in HTLV-I seroprevalence
studies. TSP/HAM is rarely diagnosed in Italy, given the low
prevalence of HTLV-I in the population. TSP/HAM begins
insidiously in the fourth decade, mainly with spastic paraparesis
of the lower extremities and positive Babinski reflex,
as well as interfering with bowel and bladder functions. In
this study we report the clinical, virological and haemato
chemical data of a 54-year-old woman, born in the Ivory
Cost, with symptoms suggestive of TSP. The presence of
HTLV-I infection was demonstrated by the detection of antibodies
in serum and in cerebrospinal fluid by immunoenzymatic
assay and Western blot analysis. In addition, viral isolation
was carried out in peripheral blood cells, and the presence
of HTLV-I proviral DNA was confirmed by polymerase
chain reaction/Southern blot and sequencing analysis.
According to our results, HTLV-I testing might be useful
when TSP/HAM is suspected.