Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 Infection in Albania

Abstract

This is the very first study undertaken in Albania, to investigate the presence of the HIV-2 infection as a co-infection with HIV-1, in sera samples at the national reference laboratory of HIV/AIDS. The seroprevalence of HIV-2 was evaluated in 260 sera samples, that were confirmed with HIV-1, preserved in -20 degree, were tested for HIV-2. Diagnosis of the HIV-2 infection was done through the identification of specific antibodies with serologic method. All these samples have been tested with the rapid imunocromatographic test, HEXAGON HIV of the third generation for the identification of antibodies against HIV 1 and HIV 2 (Human Germany). From the 260 sera samples HIV-1 positive that have been tested for the HIV-2, 8.85% resulted positive for the HIV-2 infection. Persons infected only with HIV-2 have not been discovered yet in Albania. There is an interesting data that 87% of the samples positive to HIV-2 correspond to males and most of these persons have acquired HIV infection abroad. Having said that, considering also that most of the Albanian males have emigrated for economic reasons, without their regular sexual partner, these vulnerability factors have driven towards adopting risky behaviors to acquire HIV-1 and HIV-2 as a co-infection.

Keywords: Albania, HIV-2, infection, diagnosis, seroprevalence.