[The pathogenicity of the human immunodeficiency virus HIV-2 as seen by epidemiologists]

The purpose of this study is an evaluation of HIV-2 pathogenicity through an epidemiological analysis, specially in Africa. It is acknowledged that the incubation, or more specially the lapse of time between the infection and the AIDS disease, is longer with HIV-2 than with HIV-1. More over, a certain number of surveys done in Africa show that the average age is higher with HIV-2 than with HIV-1; this is a regular sign of lower pathogenicity. It appears that the sexual transmission of the virus is the same for the HIV-2 and the HIV-1, but it is less effective from mother to baby. Furthermore this type of virus is less prevalent with AIDS patients or AIDS suspects than the HIV-1; and the follow-up of HIV-2 seropositives show that fewer people fall ill than with the HIV-1. A few signs of AIDS standard diagnosis are less frequent among HIV-2 infected patients than among HIV-1 infected patients. Opportunist or associated infections, like tuberculosis or malnutrition, are less often found in HIV-2 patients.