CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF HIV-2 INFECTION IN WEST AFRICA NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1990. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF HIV-2 INFECTION IN WEST AFRICA

AIDS Clinical Review 1989. Volberding P and Jacobson MA, eds. New York, Marcel Dekker, p. 95-108, 1989.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/90659412
Kanki PJ; Harvard Sch. of Public Health, Boston, MA

Abstract: In 1985, a new human T-lymphotropic retrovirus, now termed HIV-2, was discovered in Senegal, West Africa. The virology and biology of HIV-2 are detailed. Genetic analysis has shown HIV-2 to be most closely related to simian immunodeficiency virus (less than 20% difference) and more distantly related to HIV-1 (approx 50% difference). HIV-2 is closely related to HIV-1 in terms of host cell tropism and antigenic and genetic properties. Like HIV-1, it appears to be sexually transmitted; but, unlike HIV-1, it is not significantly associated with tuberculosis, indicating a striking difference in pathobiology. Clinical findings in HIV-2-infected individuals have thus far failed to show an association with AIDS or related disease groups. It is possible that HIV-2 is capable of inducing disease but may do so with a longer latency period and decreased attack rate. The results of epidemiologic and prospective clinical studies indicate that HIV-2 is not identical in pathogenicity to HIV-1. Further studies are necessary to define the natural history and clinical significance of HIV-2 infection. (40 Refs)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/MICROBIOLOGY Africa, Western AIDS Serodiagnosis Human HIV Infections/DIAGNOSIS/*MICROBIOLOGY HIV Seroprevalence HIV-2/IMMUNOLOGY/*PATHOGENICITY Risk Factors MONOGRAPH REVIEW, TUTORIAL REVIEWKWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/microbiologyafrica,westernaidsserodiagnosishumanhivinfections/diagnosis/KWDmicrobiologyhivseroprevalencehiv-2/immunology/KWDpathogenicityriskfactorsmonographreview,tutorialreview
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Copyright © 1990 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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