Bürgisser P, Odier L, Schüpbach J, Frei P C
Division of Immunology and Allergy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1989 Oct;8(10):889-92. doi: 10.1007/BF01963776.
Few cases of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection have been reported in individuals other than of West African origin. The first well documented case of HIV-2 infection observed in a Swiss subject is presented here. The 50-year-old woman had a sexual relationship with a Senegalese man, who was later shown to be HIV seropositive. Initially, the subject's serum was tested using a routine screening assay for the detection of HIV-1 antibodies. This assay elicited a borderline positive result. A confirmatory competitive EIA and a Western blot test for anti-HIV-1 antibodies showed a positive reaction with gag and pol proteins of HIV-1, but not with env proteins. Thus, HIV-2 infection was suspected and subsequently confirmed by three different methods, including Western blot analysis and an HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation test. This case emphasizes the need for screening with combined HIV-1/HIV-2 tests.
