Population dynamics of HTLV-I infection: A discrete-time mathematical epidemic model approach

Human T-cell Leukaemia Virus Type I (HTLV-I) is a retrovirus that causes Adult T-cell Leukaemia (ATL). The transmission routes of HTLV-I are (i) from infected mothers to their newborn babies, (ii) from infected males (husbands) to females (their wives) by long-term sexual intercourse, and (iii) from infected females (wives) to males (their husbands). Eshima et al. (2001) analysed a continuous-time HTLV-I model with no age structure in the population. In this paper, we consider the population dynamics of HTLV-I infection in a discrete-time mathematical model incorporating an age structure. The necessary and sufficient condition for the extinction of HTLV-I is derived from the mathematical model. A simulation of the HTLV-I infection based on the model demonstrates a rapid reduction of the HTLV-I infection proportion in Japan.