1Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, D.Y. Patil University, D.Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur-416006, Maharashtra, India
2Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy, D.Y. Patil University, D.Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur-416006, Maharashtra, India
(*Corresponding author) email id: *neetiroma@gmail.com; 2Dr.vasudhanikam@gmail.com
Background: Though human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 is the predominant HIV virus in India, cases of HIV-2 are also reported sporadically. Known as a silent killer, HIV-2 strain can remain undetected in the body for five to six years. If a person does not get treatment on time, death is imminent. Objectives: This study aimed at finding out the prevalence of HIV-2 infection at our centre. Methods: Retrospective analysis of data of clients who attended the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC), in D.Y. Patil University's Medical College and Hospital, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India, from April 2013 to March 2017 was carried out. Three rapid test algorithm was used to diagnose HIV 1, HIV-2 and HIV-1+2 co-infections. Results: A total of 13,102 patients were included in the analysis over a four-year period. Out of the 162 patients reported HIV positive, 1.18%, 0.02% and 0.03% were HIV-1 infected, (HIV-1+2–), HIV-2 infected (HIV-1–2+) and HIV-1 and HIV-2 co-infected (HIV-1+2+), respectively. Conclusion: Continued surveillance is needed to monitor HIV-2 in the population because the possibility for further spread of HIV-2 exists, especially among people with multiple sex partners. Accurate treatment and follow-up are needed to prevent future hazards of drug resistance.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV seropositives, HIV-related opportunistic infections, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Infections, Integrated couselling and testing centre (ICTC), Protease inhibitors
