Seroepidemiology of the human retrovirus (HTLV/ATLV) in Okinawa where adult T-cell leukemia is highly endemic.

Abstract

A survey of carriers of antibodies to HTLV-specific antigens was made in 11 islands among 60 Okinawan islands to examine the regional variation in the prevalence of HTLV carriers. The overall seropositive rate was 21% among 7,545 adults aged 40 years or more. The incidence of virus carriers was low in only one of the 11 islands (1-6%), while it was 14-31% in the other 10 islands.