No evidence of HIV-2 infection in subjects at risk for AIDS living in north-east Italy

Eur J Epidemiol. 1991 Nov;7(6):682-5. doi: 10.1007/BF00218682.

Abstract

Sera samples from 1134 individuals (824 HIV-1 seropositive and 310 HIV-1 seronegative), collected from January 1988 to April 1990, were tested for HIV-2 antibodies by whole virus assays and synthetic peptide-based assays to determine the prevalence of HIV-2 infection in populations at risk for AIDS in North-East Italy (Veneto Region). Partial reactivities on HIV-2 Western Blot were a common finding in HIV-1 seropositive samples. None of the sera fulfilled the criteria for HIV-2 seropositivity, since only low-level reactivity was observed with an HIV-2 competitive ELISA test, and no reactivity occurred with an HIV-2 specific peptide. Therefore, there is no evidence of HIV-2 infection in this geographical area, to date.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / immunology
  • HIV Antibodies / analysis
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Seropositivity / epidemiology
  • HIV Seropositivity / immunology
  • HIV-1 / immunology
  • HIV-2*
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • HIV Antibodies