title: First documented case of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 infection in an asymptomatic Swiss subject.
abstract: Few cases of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection have been reported in individuals other than of West African origin. The first well documented case of HIV-2 infection observed in a Swiss subject is presented here. The 50-year-old woman had a sexual relationship with a Senegalese man, who was later shown to be HIV seropositive. Initially, the subject's serum was tested using a routine screening assay for the detection of HIV-1 antibodies. This assay elicited a borderline positive result. A confirmatory competitive EIA and a Western blot test for anti-HIV-1 antibodies showed a positive reaction with gag and pol proteins of HIV-1, but not with env proteins. Thus, HIV-2 infection was suspected and subsequently confirmed by three different methods, including Western blot analysis and an HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation test. This case emphasizes the need for screening with combined HIV-1/HIV-2 tests.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology and Allergy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bürgisser
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Odier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schüpbach
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Frei
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies