[Report of the first 2 cases of HIV-1 group O infection in Spain].
BACKGROUND
The wide genetic variability of HIV-1 isolates has allowed to classify them into several subtypes. Very high divergent strains have been isolated recently from West Africa patients with AIDS, and they have been called HIV-1 group O ("outlier").


METHODS
In April 1995 a couple of patients was referred for medical follow-up and definitive diagnosis of HIV-1 infection. Both were white and had been born in Spain. The husband had been working for 10 years in West Africa. CD4+ T-cell counts were below 250 x 10(6)/l in both subjects, and the wife had developed seborrheic dermatitis and mild pancytopenia. Serologic and genetic studies were performed to study the presence of HIV-1 group O infection in this couple.


RESULTS
Serological tests (enzyme immunoassays, Western blot, line immunoassay) yielded indeterminate results for HIV-1 testing serum from the wife, but the husband's specimen was positive. Serological test for HIV-2 were negative in both subjects. In contrast, a new test allowed recognition of specific antibodies to HIV-1 group O in these patients. Furthermore, this infection was confirmed using a discriminative PCR methodology, which demonstrated the presence of specific HIV-1 group O sequences and the absence of group M sequences.


CONCLUSIONS
The first two cases of HIV-1 group O infection in Spain are described. It is pointed that diagnostic tests and therapeutic strategies need to considers the presence of this new HIV variant outside endemic areas.
García-Lerma
G
G
Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid.
Gutiérrez
M
M
Mas
A
A
Bravo
R
R
Aguilera
O
O
Soriano
V
V
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013030:Spain
Descripción de los dos primeros casos de infección por VIH-1 grupo O en España.