Serological evidence for human immunodeficiency virus type 2 in east Africa.
Infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) has not previously been described in North or East Africa. We examined over 1200 sera of high-risk individuals from three North/East African countries for antibodies to HIV-2. Results indicated that 17 were repeatedly reactive by ELISA; 4 were confirmed by Western blot. Of the 4 confirmed, 2 produced strong reactions to the envelope antigens of HIV-2 but not of HIV-1. One of these subjects was a foreigner from Senegal who was tested while in Egypt and one was a Djiboutian prostitute who was infected presumably prior to October 1987. We conclude that HIV-2 has been introduced into this region and that specific testing of selected individuals for HIV-2 is warranted.
Constantine
N T
NT
US Naval Medical Research Unit 3, Cairo, Egypt.
Sheba
M F
MF
Fox
E
E
Woody
J N
JN
Abbatte
E A
EA
D000328:Adult; D000351:Africa, Eastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors