Epidemiological characteristics of HIV-2 infection in Africa
Miyazaki, M.
Japanese Journal of Public Health 39(4): 228-235
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0546-1766 PMID: 1351765 Document Number: 327347
HIV-2 infection has been found to be centered around west Africa and more common in larger cities and among an older age group, with prostitutes and patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STD) constituting a high-risk group. Some members of the high-risk group are confirmed to be infected with HIV-1 and HIV-2 concurrently. The prevalence of the HIV-2 pathogen is lower than that of HIV-1. Among west African countries, a higher rate of HIV-2 infection is seen in the former Portuguese and French territories, with Guinea-Bissau's 2.0-17.5% as the highest among them. With the exception of the Ivory Coast, HIV-2 shows higher antibody positive rates in west Africa, while in the other parts of Africa, seroprevalence of HIV-2 is much lower than that of HIV-1. The only exception is the 0-7.9% rate of Angola in central Africa. There is no difference between males and females in seroprevalence of HIV-2, unlike HIV-1. Guineas-Bissau has the highest seroprevalence of HIV-2 with a rate of 6.9-17.5% among pregnant women. In the Ivory Coast, children who have received a blood transfusion tend to have higher seroprevalence of HIV-2. Prostitutes and STD patients and TB patients have higher rates of seroprevalence of HIV-2. HIV-2 infection is transmitted sexually or by contaminated injection needles. The HIV-2 infection rate among TB patients is lower than the HIV-1 infection rate. The mortality rate and pathogenicity of HIV-2 is lower than that of HIV-1. West Africa may be divided into three groups: 1) only HIV-2 is prevalent (e.g., Guinea Bissau), 2) HIV-2 as well as HIV-2 are epidemic (e.g., Ivory Coast), and 3) very few or no case of HIV-2.