S Dougan1, B Patel, J H Tosswill, K Sinka. 1. Department of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK. sarah.dougan@hpa.org.uk
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe HIV diagnoses, including those of HIV-2 infection, made in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (E,W&NI) among those probably infected in west Africa, and to consider whether there is evidence for ongoing heterosexual transmission within the United Kingdom. METHODS: Reports of new HIV diagnoses received at the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre were analysed. Individuals probably infected in west Africa and those infected through heterosexual intercourse within the United Kingdom by a heterosexual partner infected in west Africa were included. RESULTS: Between 1985 and 2003 inclusive, 1324 individuals diagnosed and reported with HIV had probably been infected in west Africa, with 222 diagnoses made in 2003. 917 (69%) were HIV-1 infected and 52 (6%) HIV-2 or HIV-1/HIV-2 co-infected. For 355 (27%) the HIV type was not reported. The proportion of HIV-2 and HIV-1/HIV-2 infections varied by country of infection (p<0.001): ranging from the Gambia (11.7%-15.2%) to Nigeria (0.7%-1.0%). A further 130 individuals were probably infected through heterosexual intercourse within the United Kingdom by a heterosexual partner infected in west Africa. 89 (68%) were HIV-1 infected and three (2%) HIV-2 infected or HIV-1/HIV-2 co-infected. For 38 (29%) HIV type was not reported. CONCLUSION: The number of people infected with HIV in west Africa and diagnosed in E,W&NI has increased in recent years, and there is evidence of heterosexual transmission within the United Kingdom from people infected in west Africa. While numbers of HIV-2 diagnoses remain relatively low, an appreciable proportion of people infected in some west African countries and diagnosed in the United Kingdom may be HIV-2 positive, with implications for prognosis and treatment.
OBJECTIVES: To describe HIV diagnoses, including those of HIV-2 infection, made in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (E,W&NI) among those probably infected in west Africa, and to consider whether there is evidence for ongoing heterosexual transmission within the United Kingdom. METHODS: Reports of new HIV diagnoses received at the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre were analysed. Individuals probably infected in west Africa and those infected through heterosexual intercourse within the United Kingdom by a heterosexual partner infected in west Africa were included. RESULTS: Between 1985 and 2003 inclusive, 1324 individuals diagnosed and reported with HIV had probably been infected in west Africa, with 222 diagnoses made in 2003. 917 (69%) were HIV-1 infected and 52 (6%) HIV-2 or HIV-1/HIV-2 co-infected. For 355 (27%) the HIV type was not reported. The proportion of HIV-2 and HIV-1/HIV-2 infections varied by country of infection (p<0.001): ranging from the Gambia (11.7%-15.2%) to Nigeria (0.7%-1.0%). A further 130 individuals were probably infected through heterosexual intercourse within the United Kingdom by a heterosexual partner infected in west Africa. 89 (68%) were HIV-1 infected and three (2%) HIV-2 infected or HIV-1/HIV-2 co-infected. For 38 (29%) HIV type was not reported. CONCLUSION: The number of people infected with HIV in west Africa and diagnosed in E,W&NI has increased in recent years, and there is evidence of heterosexual transmission within the United Kingdom from people infected in west Africa. While numbers of HIV-2 diagnoses remain relatively low, an appreciable proportion of people infected in some west African countries and diagnosed in the United Kingdom may be HIV-2 positive, with implications for prognosis and treatment.
Authors: N A Smith; J Kennedy; S Bewley; S O'Shea; G du Mont; N Berry; J Breuer; A de Ruiter Journal: Int J STD AIDS Date: 1998-04 Impact factor: 1.359
Authors: E G Lyall; M Blott; A de Ruiter; D Hawkins; D Mercy; Z Mitchla; M L Newell; S O'Shea; J R Smith; J Sunderland; R Webb; G P Taylor Journal: HIV Med Date: 2001-10 Impact factor: 3.180
Authors: N A Smith; T Shaw; N Berry; C Vella; L Okorafor; D Taylor; J Ainsworth; A Choudhury; R S Daniels; S El-Gadi; A Fakoya; G Moyle; J Oxford; R Tedder; S O'Shea; A de Ruiter; J Breuer Journal: J Infect Date: 2001-02 Impact factor: 6.072
Authors: Christopher Mullins; Geoffrey Eisen; Stephen Popper; Abdoulaye Dieng Sarr; Jean-Louis Sankale; Judith J Berger; Sharon B Wright; Hernan R Chang; Gerard Coste; Timothy P Cooley; Peter Rice; Paul R Skolnik; Margaret Sullivan; Phyllis J Kanki Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2004-05-25 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: A G Poulsen; P Aaby; O Larsen; H Jensen; A Nauclér; I M Lisse; C B Christiansen; F Dias; M Melbye Journal: Lancet Date: 1997-03-29 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Ninon Taylor; Jan Marco Kern; Wolfgang Prammer; Alois Lang; Bernhard Haas; Martin Gisinger; Robert Zangerle; Alexander Egle; Richard Greil; Hannes Oberkofler; Josef Eberle Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2014-01-18 Impact factor: 1.704
Authors: A Chawla; G Murphy; C Donnelly; C L Booth; M Johnson; J V Parry; A Phillips; A M Geretti Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2006-12-06 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Reem S Almaghrabi; Batool Ali; Sahar Al-Thawadi; Magid Abdel Halim; Abdulrahman A Alrajhi Journal: Ann Saudi Med Date: 2011 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 1.526