Seroprevalence of HIV-2 infection in Greece (Crete)

Article Abstract:

In the United States and in most of the countries in the world, the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has been the agent that has caused AIDS. There have also been a few cases of AIDS caused by the human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2), but HIV-2 is found primarily in West African countries. However, the prevalence of HIV-2 in Europe is not clear, as there is cross-reactivity between HIV-1 and HIV-2 in diagnostic tests. The presence of antibodies to HIV-2 was examined in the blood of 20,407 normal blood donors, 100 homosexual or bisexual men, and 7,020 heterosexuals who were tested for HIV infection in Crete, Greece (the group of heterosexuals voluntarily requested the HIV test). Sixty-seven of the individuals were shown to have antibodies to HIV-2 based on use of an enzyme immunoassay. The samples were then analyzed using the Western blot technique, which confirmed four of the positive results, gave an inconclusive result in 25 cases, and showed negative results in 38 of the samples. None of the samples reacted with HIV-1 antigens. The previous sexual contacts of the four individuals found to be positive for HIV-2 infection were analyzed. One bisexual and one heterosexual individual who were infected with HIV-2 had had sexual contact with West Africans. The two other infected heterosexuals had multiple sexual contacts with individuals from various countries. Therefore, individuals who live in Crete, including homosexual and bisexual men, have a low seroprevalence of HIV-2. It appears that HIV-2 infections have occurred in individuals who have had heterosexual relations with persons from western Africa. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Reports, International aspects, HIV infection, HIV infections, Prevalence studies (Epidemiology)

---

HIV serosurveillance among prostitutes and patients from a sexually transmitted diseases clinic in Delhi, India

Article Abstract:

The World Health Organization defines several patterns of AIDS transmission. The United States and Europe have pattern I, in which transmission of the AIDS virus is largely associated with homosexuality and intravenous drug use. Pattern II occurs in Africa, where HIV transmission is largely the result of heterosexual contact and the use of contaminated blood products. India is a pattern III area, which is an area of low prevalence into which the human immunodeficiency virus is being brought from the outside. There are fears, however, that India will evolve into a pattern II area as the epidemic takes hold in that region. Constant surveillance of the prevalence of HIV infection is taking place in India, but the prevalence of HIV antibodies is still low. In a study of 701 prostitutes in Delhi, only one was found to be HIV positive. Furthermore, an evaluation of 4,572 patients from a sexually transmitted disease clinic, a high-risk group in many western countries, failed to reveal a single individual infected with the AIDS virus. These results are in marked contrast to the higher rates of infection which have been reported by other studies for coastal cities, such as Bombay. There is, of course, concern that these coastal cities will slowly contaminate the surrounding areas and that, within a few years, the inland areas of India will become infected with the AIDS virus as well. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

India, HIV seroprevalence

---

A study of seroprevalence of HIV-1 and HIV-2 in six provinces of People's Republic of Angola: clues to the spread of HIV infection

Article Abstract:

In the mid-1980s, a second type of AIDS virus, now called HIV-2, was identified in West Africa. In an epidemiological study conducted in the People's Republic of Angola, the relative prevalence of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections was determined. An analysis was conducted on 1,695 serum samples from both healthy individuals and clinic patients from six scattered provinces within the nation. An overall seroprevalence of HIV antibodies of 14.2 percent was observed. Among apparently healthy individuals, 3.3 percent tested positive for HIV-1, 5.3 percent were positive for HIV-2, and 0.7 percent tested positive for both viruses. In contrast, seropositivity among the clinic patients was 8.8 percent for HIV-1, 8.4 percent for HIV-2, and 2.2 percent for both viruses. Both HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections were observed in all the provinces tested. It is believed that the war in Angola, with the resulting displacement of people, has been responsible for spreading HIV-2 infection from the northern frontier into the central and southern regions of the country. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Angola

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Seroprevalence of retroviral infection in women with different fertility statuses in Gabon, Western Equatorial Africa
• Abstracts: Delayed rupture of the spleen in rheumatoid arthritis. An uncommon cause of finger drop in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis
• Abstracts: Relation between rectal sensation and anal function in normal subjects and patients with faecal incontinence. Changes in rectal sensitivity after hypnotherapy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome
• Abstracts: Helicobacter pylori infection rates in relation to age and social class in a population of Welsh men. Helicobacter pylori: bridging the credibility gap
• Abstracts: Effect of repeated transcatheter arterial embolization on the survival time in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: an analysis by the Cox proportional hazard model

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.