HIV-2 in Italy: no evidence, yet.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1990. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

HIV-2 in Italy: no evidence, yet.

Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9;5:91 (abstract no. M.A.P.78). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA5/00023589
Cadeo GP; Corda L; Pizzocolo G; Albertini A; Carosi G; Dept. of Infectious Tropical Diseases, Dept. Chemistry,; University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The authors have carried out a wide-scale seroepidemiological survey in the region of Lombardy (Italy) to verify the presence of HIV-2 infection among risk categories. METHODS: 1069 subjects (946 drugs addicts, 80 homosexuals, 25 haemophiliacs and sexual partners) have been screened for HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections (HIV-1 and HIV-2 ELISA and W.B. by Diagnostics Pasteur). RESULTS: Among the 745 HIV-1 seropositive subjects, 233 sera reacted positively to HIV-2 ELISA test. Confirmation by HIV-2 W.B. has been obtained in 29 cases. When submitted to the specific synthetic peptide assay, the 29 HIV-1/HIV-2 W.B. positive sera strongly reacted to the HIV-1 peptide, while only 2 showed a weak HIV-2 reactivity. The same pattern of serological reactivity has been obtained on the same 29 subjects 10 months later. CONCLUSIONS: Our results don't confirm the existence of HIV-2 among risk categories in Italy. This conclusion is also supported by the absence of isolated HIV-2 pattern of seropositivity. The high false positivity rate in ELISA (31,3%) and, to a lesser extent, in W.B. (3,9%) demonstrates the presence of antigenic cross-reactivity among envelope proteins of the two viruses. Specific synthetic assay proved to be sensitive and specific. The constant presence of weak HIV-2 reactivity in 2 HIV-1+ samples at 10 months interval rules out the possibility of early HIV-2 seroconversion.

Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*EPIDEMIOLOGY Blotting, Western Cross Reactions Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay False Positive Reactions Female Hemophilia/COMPLICATIONS Homosexuality Human HIV Seroprevalence HIV-1 *HIV-2 Italy/*EPIDEMIOLOGY Male Substance Abuse, Intravenous ABSTRACT
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