HIV-2-associated AIDS and HIV-2 seroprevalence in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.

During a 6-month period in 1987 the authors examined patients clinically suspected of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) at the national hospital in Bissau the capital of Guinea-Bissau and found 20 cases that fulfilled the criteria for AIDS. The 2 most prevalent major symptoms were weight loss and diarrhea and the most common minor symptoms generalized lymphadenopathy and generalized dermatitis. 6 of 20 patients died within a few months. 19 were tested for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) antibodies and were shown to be HIV-2 seropositive. During the same time period a seroprevalence study of HIV-2 and HIV-1 was carried out including 2122 patients or healthy persons in Bissau. Antibodies to HIV-2 were demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and verified by Western blot analysis in 8.6% (46/535) of prenatal women in 7.9% (9/114) of women attending a family planning clinic in 4.4% (19/427) of applicants for scholarships in 17.6% (16/91) of blood donors tested during the 1st 2 months and 5.3% (10/189) of blood donors tested during the following months in 5.7% (2/35) of police officers in 36.7% (11/30) of female prostitutes in 15.8% (97/614) of outpatients suspected of having tuberculosis and in 55.2% (48/87) of patients clinically suspected of AIDS or AIDS-related disease. 1 of 2001 subjects tested had antibodies specific for HIV-1. Another subject had an antibody pattern compatible with both HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections. Thus the prevalence of HIV-2 infection is quite high in Bissau and significantly higher in patients clinically suspected of AIDS than in healthy normal individuals. AIDS appears to be an important manifestation of HIV-2 infection in Bissau. (authors)