Abstract

The HIV viruses,1 and 2 have approximately 40-60% identity at the amino acid level. The prevalence of HIV-2 remains highest among the West African countries and reports a prevalence of HIV-2 infection more than 1% in the general population. On the contrary, the prevalence of HIV-1 in India is high in comparison with HIV-2 because the rate of transmission of HIV-2 by heterosexual route, mother to child transmission and blood and blood products is very low. Also, the incubation period is longer for HIV-2 in comparison with HIV-1. Hence, a one-year cross-sectional study with retrospective data analysis for the duration from 01-Jan-2023 to 31-Dec-2023 was undertaken in a tertiary care hospital at Hyderabad to know the seroprevalence of HIV-2 in the patient population consisting of a total of 5759 serum specimens and were screened initially for the presence of p24 antigen of HIV-1 and antibodies against HIV-1 and -2 by rapid card test. Reactive samples for HIV-2 were further confirmed by the different rapid tests as per National Aids Control Organization (NACO). Reactivity for combined HIV-1 and -2 antibodies was seen in one in-patient (IP) sample whereas rest of the IP and all out-patient (OP) samples did not reveal any isolated reactivity for the presence of HIV-2 antibodies. So, HIV-2 reactivity only in IP samples was 0.021% whereas overall reactivity for HIV-2 antibodies was 0.017%. Though HIV-2 infection is very rare in India, the detection of it is very important from the management point of view.

Key words: HIV-2, Rapid tests, Sensitivity, Seroprevalence, Specificity