Human T Cell Lymphotrophic Virus 1/2 in Solid Organ Transplantation

Human T cell lymphotrophic virus 1 (HTLV)-1 is a delta retrovirus endemic in the Caribbean, parts of South America (highest rates reported in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela), West Africa, Asia (particularly Southwestern Japan) and Oceania. In areas of highest endemicity, 2–6% of adults are infected (1,2). Infection is much less common in North America. For example, in the United States (US) 0.035–0.046% of blood donors are infected with HTLV-1 or HTLV-2 (3). Among potential organ donors in France and the United States, similarly low rates of HTLV-1 (0.03–0.067%) have been reported (4,5).