TRANSMISSION OF HTLV-II VIA BLOOD-TRANSFUSION

Abstract. Transmission of HTLV‐I by transfusion is well documented in Japan, where HTLV‐I is endemic. In non endemic regions such as the United States, HTLV‐I/II infection has been transmitted by transfusion as well, but no effort to distinguish HTLV‐I from HTLV‐II infection was made in these studies. There is a growing body of evidence that a substantial proportion of HTLV‐I/II seropositivity in the US is due to infection with HTLV‐II. We report 2 cases of apparent transfusion‐transmitted HTLV‐II infection and discuss the importance of distinguishing between the two viruses in blood donors and recipients. © 1990 S. Karger AG, Basel