Simulation of dynamic changes of human T-cell leukemia virus type I carriage rates.

The human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is transmitted via breast milk, semen, or blood transfusion. The last route was not responsible for HTLV-I infection before the advent of modern medicine, nor will it be a major route in the future because anti HTLV-I antibody-positive blood is now screened out. Thus, the carriage rates in various areas of Japan have to be explained by the former two transmission methods. Based on the relationship between the two modes of transmission and carriage rates, several simulation experiments were performed. These experiments revealed that: (a) No population with a vertical transmission rate lower than 50% can be maintained as endemic for the virus. (b) Slight differences in horizontal transmission rates can cause a large change of the carriage rates. (c) A 1,000-fold carriage rate difference would become indistinguishable within a hundred generations if both modes of transmission were operating at nearly the same rate. (d) The probability of a formerly non-endemic population becoming endemic due to a single female carrier is not negligible. (e) Prevention of vertical transmission is much more effective in lessening the carriage rate within a short period of time than is prevention of horizontal transmission. A simulation for a real population is also presented.