Evidence for HIV-2 infection in Nepal.

Assessment of the presence and prevalence of HIV-2 antibodies in patients attending the Universal College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Bhairahawa, western Nepal was done. A total of 1534 patients sera were screened for the presence of HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies from March 2000 to May 2003. A total of 3 (0.2%) patients were found to be sero-positive for HIV-2 antibodies. Out of the above three patients, 1 (0.1%) was infected with HIV-2 only and the remaining 2 (0.1%) were infected with HIV-1 and HIV-2 both. This evidence of the presence of HIV-2 presence implicates serious outcomes as HIV-2 has not been reported from hospital patients in Nepal.