Epidemiology of HIV-2 infection in Spain. The HIV-2 Spanish Study Group.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection is endemic in West Africa, where it is responsible for many cases of AIDS. HIV-2-infected subjects have been described in other countries, mainly African immigrants, although infection in native individuals has been reported as well. The first cases of HIV-2 infection in Spain were identified in 1988. Through December 1995, 56 HIV-2 infected individuals have been diagnosed, primarily in large urban areas (23 cases in Madrid and 18 in Barcelona). All are African immigrants, except for 12 natives (21.4%), six of whom acquired the infection in endemic areas; the remaining six (2 women with numerous sexual partners and 4 homo/bisexual men) acquired the infection in Spain. Heterosexual transmission was probable in all but seven cases: five homo/bisexual males, a subject who likely acquired infection through parenteral exposure, and a child born to an HIV-2-infected mother. Nine patients (all Spanish born) have developed AIDS (16%), six of whom have died. In conclusion, HIV-2 infection is present in Spain at a low rate, and there is little evidence supporting an emerging ongoing transmission outside the population of African immigrants.
Soriano
V
V
Service of Infectious Diseases, CIC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
Gutiérrez
M
M
Caballero
E
E
Cilla
G
G
Fernández
J L
JL
Aguilera
A
A
Tuset
C
C
Dronda
F
F
Martín
A M
AM
Carballo
E
E
López
I
I
González-Lahoz
J
J
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate