Abstract
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) researchers are currently debating whether the biological effects of the newly discovered second human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-2) are more or less virulent than those of the previously identified AIDS virus now known as HIV-1. This debate has significance for AIDS prevention strategies in Africa. The resources that African countries devote to screening for HIV-2 which is not necessarily detected by screening for HIV-1 may depend on whether HIV-2 is considered a major public health threat. Although HIV-2 appears at this point to be less pathogenic than HIV-1 it could evolve into a more pathogenic form. Epidemiological studies have revealed widespread HIV-2 infection in 6 West African countries particularly Guinea Bissau Senegal and the Ivory Coast. However HIV-2 infection had a significantly lower correlation with AIDS symptoms than HIV-1. Studies of prostitutes in Senegal and Kenya have indicated that none infected with HIV-2 had developed symptoms of AIDS after 2 1/2 years while 47% of HIV-1 infected prostitutes developed such symptoms within 1 year. Preliminary research suggests that a vaccine aimed at HIV-2 might provide protection against HIV-1 although the reverse may not be true.
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