Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 infection in Spain. The HIV-2 Spanish Study Group

The first cases of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection in Spain were identified in 1988, in 3 African immigrants living in Barcelona. Since then, up to December 1998, 92 individuals with HIV-2 infection have been reported in Spain. Most are adult men, infected through heterosexual contacts, originating from West African countries, and currently living in the largest urban Spanish cities. Fifteen individuals have developed AIDS, meanwhile the rest remain asymptomatic. For 22 subjects, HIV-2 subtyping was performed on proviral DNA, 16 being infected with subtype A (8 Spanish born and 8 African immigrants) and the remaining with subtype B (two Spanish born and 4 originating from Equatorial Guinea). Coinfection with HIV-1 was demonstrated in 9 individuals. In conclusion, HIV-2 is currently circulating in Spain with a low prevalence and without evidence for increase over time.