HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection associated with AIDS in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

The results of a seroprevalence study of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and 2 in selected populations in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) suggest that HIV-1 infection is more widespread in west Africa than is generally acknowledged. The 956 study subjects who were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in September 1987 included 200 consecutive hospitalized patients on infectious diseases and internal medicine wards at Abidjans largest hospital 200 consecutive outpatients at Abidjans 2 largest tuberculosis treatment centers 200 volunteer blood donors 200 consecutive women from an urban prenatal clinic and 156 consecutive outpatients attending urban sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics. The prevalence of HIV-1 infection (in ascending order) was 6% among STD patients 7% among pregnant women 8% among blood donors 15% among internal medicine inpatients 16% among tuberculosis patients and 24% among infectious diseases inpatients. The prevalence of infection with HIV-2 was 1% among STD patients 2% among both pregnant women and internal medicine inpatients 4% among both blood donors and tuberculosis patients and 6% among infectious disease inpatients. Dual infection with both viruses was found in 1% of pregnant women 2% of STD patients 3% of donors 6% of internal medicine inpatients 8% of tuberculosis patients and 15% of infectious disease patients. 25% of all seropositive individuals reacted serologically to both viruses. Of the 29 subjects who met the WHO clinical criteria for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in the infectious diseases service 13 were seropositive for HIV-1 4 for HIV-2 and 4 were dually reactive.