[Prevalence of anti-HIV-2 antibodies in a population at risk attending the drug-dependence center of the Rho hospital].

Abstract

We have evaluated the prevalence of anti HIV-2 antibodies in a population of 139 individuals at risk for AIDS, attending the center for drug addiction of the Rho hospital. 79.85% of our patients were positive for anti HIV-1 antibodies. 51 patients (36.69%) were positive for anti HIV-2 antibodies in an immunoenzymatic method, but only 16 patient (11.51%) have been confirmed in Western Blot. We stress, therefore, the necessity of confirming the positivity for anti HIV-2 antibodies with the Western Blotting method. 14.41% of our anti HIV-1 positive patients were also anti HIV-2 positive, but no one showed an isolate positivity for anti HIV-2 antibodies.