Fig. 1

HTLV-I- proviral load in ATLL, ACs, and HAM/TSP groups. The PVL in ATLL patients was significantly higher than in ACs (P = 0.003, Mann–Whitney U test). The PVL between ATLL and HAM/TSP patients was statistically different (P = 0.041, Mann–Whitney U test). No significant difference was found between ACs and HAM/TSP. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. PVL, proviral load; ATLL, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma; ACs, asympthomatic carriers; HAM/TSP, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis