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LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2007 | Volume
: 28
| Issue : 2 | Page : 113 |
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Prevalence of HIV-2 infection in south Tamil Nadu
S Murugan, R Anburajan
Peace HIV Care Center, Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu, India
Correspondence Address:
S Murugan
Peace HIV Care Center, 7/A1, Railwaystation road, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0253-7184.39020
How to cite this article:
Murugan S, Anburajan R. Prevalence of HIV-2 infection in south Tamil Nadu. Indian J Sex Transm Dis 2007;28:113 |
How to cite this URL:
Murugan S, Anburajan R. Prevalence of HIV-2 infection in south Tamil Nadu. Indian J Sex Transm Dis [serial online] 2007 [cited 2023 Dec 11];28:113. Available from: https://ijstd.org/text.asp?2007/28/2/113/39020 |
Sir,
The prevalence rate of HIV-2 infection in India is not available so far. Even though the HIV-1 infection is abundantly found, HIV-2 infection is also detected sporadically now and then. We undertook a study in two voluntarily counseling and testing centers (During July 2003-June 2006) to find the incidence of HIV-2 infection in and around Tirunelveli district of South Tamilnadu.
Out of 6407 tested, 18 were found to have HIV-2 infection [Table - 1]. Among these 18, only four were exclusively HIV-2 infected whereas the other 14 were having both HIV-1 and -2 infections together and these 14 had highly promiscuous activity at different parts of the country. Solomon et al. of YRG care observed an incidence of 0.8% of HIV-2 among urban population and 0.3% among rural population. [1]
Knowing this incidence is epidemiologically significant. HIV-2 infection is less infectious in the early course of the disease. [2],[3] Vertical transmission is also rare. More number of discordant couples are come across with HIV-2 infection when compared to HIV-1 infection. In our study, we found that HIV-2 infection affected two children whereas 12 children escaped from the infection and observed six discordant couples. Moreover, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) has no role in the management of HIV-2 infection. Nevirapine prophylaxis in prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV-2 infection also would be ineffective.
So it is high time to assess the exact incidence HIV-2 infection and to frame the special guidelines to manage HIV-2 infection and different regimen for the prevention of mother to child transmission. otherwise we will have to face serious resistant strains of HIV-2 which will possibly pose a problem in our country in future as the present regimen given in Government ART center amounts to two effective drugs only and not exactly HAART.
 References | |  |
| 1. | Solomon S, Kumarasamy N, Ganesh AK, Amalraj RE. Prevalence and risk factors HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection in urban and rural areas in Tamilnadu, India. Int J STD AIDS 1998;9:98-103.  [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 2. | Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 / Fact sheets /CDC HIV/AIDS, p. 1-5. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/hiv2.htm. |
| 3. | Marlink R, Kanki P, Thior I, Travers K, Eisen G, Siby T, et al. Reduced rate of disease development after HIV-2 infection as compared to HIV-1. Science 1994;265:1587-90. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
[Table - 1]
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