A comparison of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections in hospitalized patients in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
In late 1988, a cross-sectional study of 1715 adult medical patients hospitalized in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, west Africa, showed an overall prevalence of HIV infection of 46% in men and 28% in women. On the basis of specific testing by whole virus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot and synthetic peptide ELISA, HIV-1 infection was found in 25%, HIV-2 infection in 4%, and reactivity to both viruses in 11% of male and female patients combined. People infected with HIV-2, as well as those who were reactive to both HIV-1 and HIV-2, had a frequency of AIDS-associated symptoms and signs similar to that in HIV-1-infected patients, and significantly greater than that in seronegative patients. The significance of dual reactivity, and the natural history and disease spectrum of HIV-2 infection, require further study. Synthetic peptide ELISA is valuable for specific serodiagnosis of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections. Advanced HIV-2 infection in hospitalized patients in Abidjan is associated with the same symptoms and signs as HIV-1 infection.
De Cock
K M
KM
Projet RETRO-CI, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Odehouri
K
K
Colebunders
R L
RL
Adjorlolo
G
G
Lafontaine
M F
MF
Porter
A
A
Gnaore
E
E
Diaby
L
L
Moreau
J
J
Heyward
W L
WL
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1; D015498:HIV-2; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence