New strain of Human T Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) type 3 in a pygmy from Cameroon with peculiar HTLV serologic resultsCalattini, S.Betsem, E.Bassot, S.Chevalier, S. A.Mahieux, R.Froment, AlainGessain, A.A search for human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) types 1 and 2 and related viruses was performed by serological and molecular means on samples obtained from 421 adult villagers from the southern Cameroon forest areas. One individual (a 56-year-old Baka Pygmy hunter) was found to be HTLV-3 infected; however, there was a low proviral load in blood cells. Complete sequence analysis of this virus (HTLV-3(Lobak18)) indicated a close relationship to human HTLV-3(Pyl43) and simian STLV-3(CTO604) strains. Plasma samples from Lobak18, the HTLV-3 infected individual, exhibited a peculiar "HTLV-2-like" pattern on Western blot analysis and were serologically untypeable by line immunoassay. These results were different from those for the 2 previously reported HTLV-3 strains, raising questions about serological confirmation of infection with such retroviruses.Univ Chicago Press2007texthttp://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/PAR00003580oai:ird.fr:PAR00003580Calattini S., Betsem E., Bassot S., Chevalier S. A., Mahieux R., Froment Alain, Gessain A. New strain of Human T Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) type 3 in a pygmy from Cameroon with peculiar HTLV serologic results. journal of infectious diseases, 2007, 199 (4), p. 561-564.