HTLV-2

This virus was isolated by Gallo from a patient with lymphoproliferative disease, T variant of hairy cell leukemia.

This virus is endemic to very specific regions of the Americas, particularly in native American populations:

New Mexico (Navajo and Pueblo Indians)
Florida (Seminole Indians)
Panama
Brazil
Columbia
Argentina

Seroprevalence in these regions is as much as 20% and women over 50 may have a seroprevalence of up to 50% in some populations.

In the USA, this virus has entered the intravenous drug using population (somewhat less in Europe)

Transmission:

i. Breast feeding (developing countries)

ii. Sexual (industrialized countries)

iii. Contaminated needles  (industrialized countries)

See: Gessain, A. and Mahieux, R. Genetic diversity and molecular epidemiology of primate T cell lymphotropic viruses. In HIV and the New Viruses, Dalgleish, A. and Weiss, R. editors. Academic Press. 1999