Human T-lymphotrophic Virus
Human T-lymphotrophic Virus
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
SECTION I – INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Human T-lymphotrophic virus
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: HTLV-1, Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), T-cell lymphosarcoma (TLCL), peripheral T-cell lymphoma, Sezary’s disease, Hairy cell leukemia, tropical spastic paraparesis
CHARACTERISTICS: Retroviridae (Oncornavirus C; spherical, 80-110 nm in diameter, helical nucleoprotein within icosahedral capsid virion; two identical single-stranded RNA, linear, positive sense genome; reverse transcriptase enzyme contained inside virion
SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Risk of disease development in the asymptomatic is 5%; causes two divergent diseases: adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL, 20 year latency) and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP – 1 to 4 year latency); ATL is characterized by skin lesions, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and hypercalcemia and usually resistant to treatment; HAM/TSP is a degenerative neurologic disease characterized by progressive bilateral leg weakness and spasticity, spastic bladder and minimal sensory deficits; infective dermatitis in children; uveitis; B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide distribution; endemic in southern Japan, and the Caribbean basin; less common in the Pacific coast of South America, equatorial Africa, and southern USA; frequent among intravenous drug users
HOST RANGE: Humans and possibly non-human primates
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Mother to child transmission through blood or breast milk; transfer of blood or blood products by blood donations or intravenous drug use, and sexual transmission (male-to-female transmission is more efficient)
INCUBATION PERIOD: Unknown
COMMUNICABILITY: Unknown
SECTION III – DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Humans
ZOONOSIS: None
VECTORS: None
SECTION IV – VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: No specific antiviral is available to date
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to UV irradiation and heat
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives in blood for days
SECTION V – MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by serological analysis and viral isolation
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer supportive therapy
IMMUNIZATION: None available
PROPHYLAXIS: None available
SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Blood, cerebrospinal fluid
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation, droplet exposure of mucous membrane
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment facilities for activities involving clinical specimens and non-cultured procedures (primary containment devices may be indicated eg. biological safety cabinets) and for activities involving non-human primates and any animals experimentally infected or inoculated with HTLV; Biosafety level 3 practices, containment equipment and facilities for all work culturing HTLV
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Gloves should be worn when handling potentially infectious specimens cultures or tissues; laboratory coats, gloves or suitable protective clothing should be worn
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouth in order to avoid potential exposure of the mucous membranes; eye goggles or face shield may assist in accomplishing this objective
SECTION VIII – HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing gently cover the spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at the perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, incineration, chemical disinfection
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled
SECTION IX – MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Date prepared: April, 2001
Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
Copyright © Health Canada, 2001
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