Objective(s): Coronary artery disease (CAD) is known as a life threatening disease, worldwide. In this study the role of HTLV-1 infection was evaluated on cardiac involvement in an endemic region of northeastern Iran. Materials and Methods: Serologic and molecular tests for HTLV-1 infection were carried out in subjects who had coronary angiography. A real-time PCR, TaqMan method, to quantify HTLV-1 Proviral load (PVL), and routine hematological and biochemical tests were performed for study subjects. Results: Twenty nine patients were HTLV-1+CAD+ and 13 cases were HTLV-1+CAD-. Although, there were no significant differences for risk factors like FBS, HDL, triglyceride, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Cbp, Dbp), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (WL), cholesterol (P=0. 003), and LDL (P=0. 007) levels, and monocyte count (P=0. 05) had meaningful differences. The mean HTLV-1 PVL in HTLV-1+CAD+ subjects was 992. 62± 120 which was higher compared with HTLV-1+CAD-group (406. 54± 302 copies/104 PBMCs). Moreover, HTLV-1 PVL in males (833± 108) was lower compared with females (1218± 141 copies/104 PBMCs) (P=0. 05). Patients with HTLV-1-PVL of more than 500 copies/104 had more diffused atherosclerosis plaque than patients with less than 500 (OR=6. 87, 95% CI=1. 34-35. 05; P=0. 016). Furthermore, patients with diffused coronary atherosclerosis had significantly higher levels of HTLV-1 PVL than patients with middle, proximal, and normal location of coronary sclerotic lesions (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Taken together, in endemic area, HTLV-1 infection, more likely is a facilitating factor for heart complications and the high HTLV-1 PVL might affect CAD manifestations.

Background: The significance of HTLV-1 Proviral load as a prognostic biomarker in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) has been a subject of controversy. This study aims to assess the impact of HTLV-1 Proviral load (PVL) on the clinical outcome in patients with HAM/TSP. Methods: An absolute quantitative HTLV-1 PVL RT-qPCR, TaqMan method was developed with 100% sensitivity and specificity. Then, from 2005-2018, the HTLV-1 PVL of 90 eligible newly diagnosed HAM/TSP patients were assessed for demographic, clinical symptoms and their associations with HTLV-1-PVL. Results: The quality control of the designed RT-qPCR showed a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Spasticity in lower limbs in 58.9% and urinary symptoms in 17.8% of HAM/TSPs were observed. Using this designed RT-qPCR, the HTLV-1-PVL strongly affected spasticity and sphincter disturbance (p=0.05). The multivariate logistic test showed that only the beginning of lower limb weakness along with tremor was associated with PVL (OR: 2.78. 95% CI (0.99-1.02) and p=0.05). Urinary incontinence was prevalent among these patients; however, no association was identified with the HTLV-1 Proviral load (PVL). Conclusion: The absolute RT-qPCR developed for measuring HTLV-1 Proviral load (PVL) demonstrated reliable results. Despite a high prevalence of urinary incontinence in these patients, no association was observed with the PVL. Consequently, it appears that HTLV-1 Proviral load is specifically associated with developing spasticity in HAM/TSP.

Objective(s): HTLV-I and HIV virus quantification is an important marker for assessment of virus activities. Since there is a direct relationship between the number of virus and disease progression, HTLV-I and HIV co-infection might have an influence on the development of viral associated diseases, thus, viral replication of these viruses and co-infection were evaluated.Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 subjects were selected; 14 HIV infected, 20 HTLV-I infected and 6 HTLV-I/HIV co-infected subjects. The amount of viruses was measured using qPCR TaqMan method and CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes were assessed by flow cytometry.Results: The mean viral load of HIV infected subjects and HTLV-I infected individuals were 134626.07±60031.07 copies/ml and 373.6±143.3 copies/104 cells, respectively. The mean HIV viral load in co-infected group was 158947±78203.59 copies/ml which is higher than HIV infected group. The mean Proviral load of HTLV-I in co-infected group was 222.33±82.56 copies/ml which is lower than HTLV-I infected group (P<0.05). Also, the mean white blood cell count was higher in co-infected group (5666.67±1146.49 cells/ml). However, the differences between these subjects did not reach to a statistical significance within 95% confidence interval level (P =0.1). No significant differences were observed regarding CD4 and CD8 positive lymphocytes between these groups.Conclusion: HTLV-I/HIV co-infection might promote HIV replication and could reduce the HTLV-I Proviral load, in infected cells. Considering the presence of both viruses in Khorasan provinces, it encourages researchers and health administrators to have a better understanding of co-infection outcome.