[Spread pattern of HIV-2 in patients at risk. Evaluation of serologic markers]

The aim of this paper is to ascertain the spread pattern of HIV-2 in patients at risk in an area of frequent contact with sub-Saharan Africa and evaluate the seric marker of HIV-2 infection. 606 serum samples from 524 patients were analysed. 445 patients were intravenous drug users (IDU), 17 used inhaled drugs, 26 had HIV-2 (+)partner, and others 36 high-risk practice. The ser were analysed for HIV-1 and HIV-2, using ELISA, Western blot (LAVBLOT 1, LAVBLOT 2) and specific synthetic peptides such as gp 41 and gp 36 (PEPTI-LAV 1-2). 245 out of 524 (47%) patients were HIV-1 (+). 65 out of 524 (12.4%) were Elavia-2 and HIV-1 (+). All samples tests using Western blot 1, confirmed the results of the ELISA (2 protein of the membrane). The Western blot of HIV-2 Elavia-2 (+) in 2/53 showed two proteins of the membrane and 26/53 one protein of the membrane and several of the core. The PEPTIL-LAV 1-2 was HIV-1 positive in 77/77 HIV-1 serum samples and in 10 HIV-2 positive, however, in all cases the HIV-2 reactivity was lower than HIV-1, allowing the orientation of the diagnosis towards the HIV-1 positive serum. In spite of the frequent contact with Africa, the spread of HIV-2 in the south of Spain is still quite insignificant. The Western blot of HIV-2 gives a high proportion of double reactivity, including those cases with restrictive criteria to be positive. PEPTI-LAV 1-2 has proved most useful in the diagnosis orientation in the cases of crossed reactivity between HIV-1 and HIV-2.