Transmission of ATLV (HTLV-I) through blood transfusion.

In a follow-up of blood recipients, antibodies against adult T-cell leukemia antigen (anti-ATLA) were found in those who had received blood preparations containing cells. Detection of lymphocytes carrying viral antigen of ATLV (human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) ) in seroconverted recipients and the appearance of the viral antigen in cord blood lymphocytes co-cultured with a T-cell clone of a seroconverted recipient strongly suggested that the virus was transmitted through blood transfusion. Screening of blood donors by testing their antibodies against the virus is necessary to prevent future transmission through transfusion, and should be done even if such transmission does not result in the development of adult T-cell leukemia.