HIV 2: A Benign Onlooker or A Subtle Threat?
Published: May 1, 2014 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2014/.4340
Ekadashi Rajni Sabharwal, Shweta Gupta, Gaurav Dalela
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
2. Professor & Head, Department of Microbiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
3. Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India.
Correspondence Address :
Dr. Ekadashi Rajni Sabharwal,
202, Rajkiya Awaas, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Phone: 09462897600, E-mail: ravajni@yahoo.co.in
Abstract
HIV-2 infection, originally discovered in West Africa, has now been found in many countries throughout the world including India. Despite it being a long acquaintance with the virus, not much is known about it conclusively. The present study was conducted at the ICTC of a tertiary care hospital catering to the needs of Jaipur and adjoining districts, to find the prevalence of HIV 2 among ICTC attendees. A total of 8190 clients accessed ICTC services during the study period, out of which 135 were HIV-seropositive, giving a prevalence of 1.64%. There was only a single positive case for HIV 2, giving a seroprevalence of 0.01% and none was reactive for antibodies of both HIV-1 and HIV-2. We suggest that in low prevalence areas like ours, assays capable of detecting both HIV 1 and HIV 2 must continue to be used to make our understanding of the deadly virus better and also make our combat more effective.
Keywords
HIV 2, ICTC, Seroprevalence