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LETTER TO EDITOR
Year : 2007  |  Volume : 28  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 113
 

Prevalence of HIV-2 infection in south Tamil Nadu


Peace HIV Care Center, Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu, India

Correspondence Address:
S Murugan
Peace HIV Care Center, 7/A1, Railwaystation road, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0253-7184.39020

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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 Top

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.   Back to cited text no. 1  [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.  Back to cited text no. 2    
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.  Back to cited text no. 3  [PUBMED]  [FULLTEXT]



 
 
    Tables

  [Table - 1]


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