Human immunodeficiency virus type II (HIV-2)

Abstract

HIV-2 is associated with AIDS. At the present time it is rare in the United States. The latent period may be longer than that for HIV-1: it may take as long as 15 years or more before clinical symptomatology develops. Once AIDS develops in the presence of HIV-2, it has all of the characteristics seen in similarly advanced cases of HIV-1. Testing for HIV-2 includes screening EIA and supplementary Western blot testing. Therapy should be directed at the opportunistic infections and consideration should be given to antiviral medications, although their efficacy is as yet not well proven