Molecular epidemiology of HIV-2 infection in KwaZulu-Natal Provnce, South Africa.

• Main Author: Singh, Lavanya.
• Other Authors: De Oliveira, Tulio.
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: HIV infections > KwaZulu-Natal > Epidemiology; Theses > Virology.
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10413/11003

Infection with HIV-2 has important implications for the diagnosis, treatment and management of the infection. The objective of this study was to describe the seroprevalence and molecular epidemiology of HIV-2 in KwaZulu-Natal – the province with the highest HIV prevalence in South Africa, which in turn is the country with the highest HIV prevalence in the world. HIV-1 positive samples were screened using a rapid test for HIV-2. Samples showing antibody positivity were subject to molecular confirmation by PCR and / or serological confirmation by Western blot. There was a large difference in results (10.6% by Western blotting versus 0% by PCR). This discrepancy between molecular and serological confirmation by Western blot. There was a large difference in results (10.6% by Western blotting versus 0% by PCR). This discrepancy between molecular and serological confirmation was attributed to cross-reacting antibodies. The use of rapid tests and Western blots for HIV-2 diagnosis in South Africa, should, therefore, be interpreted with caution. Based on the results of this study, HIV-2 is most probably not present in KwaZulu-Natal. === Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.