HIV-1 and HIV-2: what they are and what are the differences

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. to infections.

These viruses, although they cause the same disease and are transmitted in the same way, have some important differences, especially in their transmission rate and the way the disease evolves.

HIV-1 and HIV-2 are detected by an infectious disease specialist or general practitioner through a blood test to detect antibodies against these viruses. Find out how the HIV test is performed.

4 main differences between HIV-1 and HIV-2

HIV-1 and HIV-2 have many similarities regarding their replication, mode of transmission and clinical manifestations of AIDS, however they have some differences:

1. Where are they most common

HIV-1 is very common anywhere in the world, accounting for around 95% of all infections, while HIV-2 is more common in West Africa.

However, HIV-2 can also be detected in other African countries, such as Cape Verde, Angola or Mozambique, in addition to India, Brazil and Portugal.

2. How they are transmitted

The virus’s mode of transmission is the same for HIV-1 and HIV-2 and is through unprotected sexual contact, sharing of syringes between infected people, transmission during pregnancy or contact with infected blood.

Although they transmit in the same way, HIV-2 produces fewer viral particles than HIV-1 and, therefore, the risk of transmission is lower in people infected with HIV-2. See the main forms of HIV transmission.

3. How the infection evolves

HIV-2 infection progresses more slowly than HIV-1, and is also less fatal than HIV-1.

This is because HIV-2 has a lower viral load, which means that the onset of symptoms in the case of AIDS takes longer, and can take up to 30 years, compared to HIV-1, which can be around 10 years.

However, if HIV infection progresses to AIDS, the disease development process is very similar for both types of virus.

AIDS appears when a person presents opportunistic infections, such as tuberculosis or pneumonia, for example, which are manifested due to the weakness of the immune system generated by the virus. Know the main symptoms of HIV and AIDS.

4. How the treatment is carried out

Treatment of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection is done with antiretroviral medications, as they help prevent viruses from multiplying, slow the progression of HIV, prevent transmission and help protect the immune system.

However, due to genetic variations, HIV-2 is resistant to two classes of antiretrovirals, reverse transcriptase analogues and fusion/entry inhibitors.

Therefore, drug combinations for treating HIV-1 and HIV-2 may be different. Learn more about HIV treatment.

HIV-1 and HIV-2 tem cura?

There is no cure for HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection, as the immune system is not capable of fighting the virus and eliminating it from the body.

However, there are treatments using antiretrovirals, which are capable of reducing the multiplication of the virus and reducing the viral load, preventing the development of human immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is the severe form of HIV infection.