Nucleotide Sequence Variation of Human T‐Lymphotropic Virus Type II in Vietnam

摘要

A high rate of human T‐lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV‐II) infection has been documented in intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs) in South Vietnam. We have investigated the molecular characteristics of the virus and have shown that one HTLV‐II subtype is predominant in Ho Chi Minh City. This molecular subtype, HTLV‐IIb, was identified in a number of South Vietnamese by nucleotide sequence analysis of the long terminal repeat (LTR) region. HTLV‐IIa was not found. These findings suggest that HTLV‐IIb is endemic in IVDAs in South Vietnam, although IVDAs in urban areas in North America are predominantly infected with HTLV‐IIa.