Human immunodeficiency virus type-2-A milder, kinder virus: An update.

Human immunodeficiency virus type-2 (HIV-2) belongs to the family retroviridae which is phylogenetically clusters with SIV SM from sooty mangabeys. This virus is morphologically similar to human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) but has got only a 40% homology at the nucleotide level. There is a distinct geographical distribution of HIV-2 unlike HIV-1. There are currently eight subtypes/groups identified with subtype/group A responsible for the majority of infections. HIV-2 shows a considerable difference in the course of the disease. Clinical, haematological and immunological evaluation of individuals infected with HIV-2 has shown the virus to be less pathogenic than HIV-1 although the exact mechanism underlying this difference is not well defined. Similar to HIV-1, the HIV-2 isolates also showed distinct replicative and cytopathic characteristics. The transmission rate for HIV-2 compared to HIV-1 is very low both by heterosexual route and mother to child transmission. The clinical signs and symptoms of immunodeficiency associated with HIV-2 are similar to the ones seen among the HIV-1-infected individuals and they can also progress to AIDS. It is naturally resistant to NNRTI and hence the diagnosis become important as it affects the treatment strategy. Similar to HIV-1, HIV-2 strains of infected individuals also show mutations that can cause drug resistance. The current evidence suggests that there is no protective effective for HIV-2 against HIV-1.

Infecçäo pelo HIV / Infection HIV

A infecçao pelo HIV rapidamente ganhou importância no meio médico. Entretanto, ainda há desinformaçao sobre as manifestaçoes clínicas e a classificaçao dos pacientes. Os autores abordam os aspectos clínicos e epidemiológicos, com a nova classificaçao proposta pelo Center for Disease Control (CDC), em 1992, para o melhor manuseio da infecçao pelo HIV.

Seropositividad para VIH-1 y VIH-2 en donadores de sangre en el Hospital General de Ticomán S.S / Prevalence of HIV-1 and HIV-2 in voluntary blood donnors at the Ticoman General Hospital

En un estudio observacional, longitudinal y abierto, se valoró la seroprevalencia a los virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana 1 y 2 en 76 donadores voluntarios de sangre en el Hospital General de Ticomán S.S. De los 76 sujetos estudiados, 1 heterosexual promiscuo fue positivo al VIH-1, todos los donadores fueron seronegativos al VIH-2. Nuestros resultados apoyan la baja prevalencia del VIH-1 en la población fuera de los grupos de riesgo, y aunque no hubo seropositividad al VIH-2, debe tenerse en mente la aparición de dicho virus en nuestro país en cualquier momento

[Tuberculosis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]

From January 1987 to July 1990, 16,2% of patients followed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] infection, of which six were ill [all with AIDS], had tuberculosis. Pulmonary tuberculosis was present in four patients [66,6%], and extrapulmonary tuberculosis in six. The extrapulmonary infections were located in the mediastinal lymph nodes in two cases, the peripheral lymph nodes in two cases, and in the pleura in two cases. Pulmonary infection was multilobar in four cases with cavitary infiltrates in one case. An intradermal skin test, using 10 TU PPD, was positive in only one case. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed by evidence of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis [MT] in direct examination in three cases, by cultures in the same three cases, and histology in four cases. Preliminary results of antibacterial treatment were favorable in five patients. However, these five patients died within an average of twelve months after diagnosis of tuberculosis, corresponding with the CDC which includes extrapulmonary tuberculosis in their case definition of AIDS. A study of a larger series would allow clarification of the epidemiological aspects of tuberculosis associated with HIV infection in Morocco