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HIV-1 and HIV-2 are two different subtypes of the HIV virus, also known as human immunodeficiency virus, which are responsible for causing AIDS, which is a serious disease that affects the immune system and decreases the body's response infections.
These viruses, although they cause the same disease and are transmitted in the same way, present some important differences, especially in their transmission rate and in the way the disease evolves.
4 main differences between HIV-1 and HIV-2
HIV-1 and HIV-2 have many similarities in terms of their replication, mode of transmission and clinical manifestations of AIDS, but they have some differences:
1. Where are they most frequent
HIV-1 is very common in any part of the world, while HIV-2 is more common in West Africa.
2. How they are transmitted
The mode of transmission of the virus is the same for HIV-1 and HIV-2 and is done by unprotected sexual contact, sharing of syringes between infected people, transmission during pregnancy or contact with infected blood.
Although they are transmitted in the same way, HIV-2 produces less viral particles than HIV-1 and, therefore, the risk of transmission is lower in people infected with HIV-2.
3. How the infection evolves
If HIV infection progresses to AIDS, the process of developing the disease is very similar for both types of viruses. However, as HIV-2 has a lower viral load, the evolution of the infection tends to be slower. This makes the appearance of symptoms in the case of AIDS caused by HIV-2 also taking longer, which can take up to 30 years, compared to 10 years of HIV-1.
AIDS arises when the person has opportunistic infections, such as tuberculosis or pneumonia, for example, which manifest themselves due to the weakness of the immune system generated by the virus. See more about the disease and the symptoms that may occur.
4. How the treatment is done
Treatment for HIV infection is done with antiretroviral drugs, which, although they do not eliminate the virus from the body, help prevent it from multiplying, slow the progression of HIV, prevent transmission and help protect the immune system.
However, due to the genetic differences between the viruses, combinations of drugs for the treatment of HIV-1 and HIV-2 may be different, since HIV-2 is resistant to two classes of antiretrovirals: reverse transcriptase analogues and fusion / entry inhibitors. Learn more about HIV treatment.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- MINISTRY OF HEALTH SECRETARIAT FOR HEALTH SURVEILLANCE DEPARTMENT OF STD, AIDS AND VIRAL HEPATITIS. TECHNICAL HANDBOOK FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF HIV INFECTION. 2013. Available at:. Accessed on 28 Jan 2020
- NYAMWEYA, Samuel et. al .. Comparing HIV ‐ 1 and HIV ‐ 2 infection: Lessons for viral immunopathogenesis. Reviews in Medical Virology. Vol.23. 4.ed; 221-240, 2013
- OLIVEIRA, Eunice et. al .. Acute Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection 1: a window of opportunity. Galicia Clin. Vol.77. 1.ed; 36-38, 2016