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Published on: June 11, 2011
When phylogenetic analysis complements the epidemiological investigation: a case of HIV-2 infection, Italy
Massimo Ciccozzi1, Annapaola Callegaro, Alessandra Lo Presti
1Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy. massimo.ciccozzi@iss.it
Abstract:
Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection is geographically restricted, affecting West African countries such as Guinea- Bissau and Cape Verde. We describe a recent case of HIV-2 infection in an Italian patient. Phylogenetic analysis of the V3 region of HIV-2 indicated that the Italian patient was infected by HIV-2 subtype A2. The sequence obtained from the Italian patient clustered significantly with a sequence isolated from Senegal. A phylogenetic doubt may arise from a Guinea Bissau sequence because it was in a major clade with the Italian and Senegal sequences, but was not statistically significant. The discovery of another Italian case over a short time frame stresses the importance of strengthening the surveillance system for HIV-2 because of the increase in migration from endemic areas to Italy.
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