SEROPREVALENCE OF HIV-1, HIV-2, AND HIV-1 GROUP-O IN NIGERIA - EVIDENCE FOR A GROWING INCREASE OF HIV-INFECTION

To determine current data on HIV infection and to further confirm the presence of HIV-1 group O infection in Nigeria, 2300 samples from five states were tested for the presence of HIV antibody. A convenience sa mpling was obtained from pregnant women, tuberculosis (TB) patients, c ommercial sex workers (CSWs), blood donors, patients with sexually tra nsmitted diseases (STDs), patients with skin diseases, male clients of CSWs, outpatients suspected to have AIDS, truck drivers, and communit y dwellers. With the exception of pregnant women, the HIV prevalences in all these groups were high: 60.6% in CSWs, 16.2% in TB patients, 7, 7% in blood donors in some states, and 16% in the rural area of Kano S tate. Male clients of CSWs, truck drivers, and STD patients had preval ences of 7.8%, 8.6%, and 21.2%, respectively, Regional differences in relation to HIV prevalences were observed: HIV-2 and most of the HIV-1 /2 infections were found in the southern states of Nigeria, Higher HIV prevalences were observed in the north-northeast in pregnant women, T B patients, and CSWs, but for blood donors, higher rates were seen in the southeast-southwest. One asymptomatic 50-year-old woman, a communi ty dweller in Kano, was identified to be HIV-1 group O-positive. Compa red with data from national surveillance studies in 1991/1992 and 1993 /1994, a substantial increase in HIV infection was observed. Our resul ts show a growing incidence of HIV infection in Nigeria and suggest th e presence of a rural HIV epidemic. The identification of HIV-1 group O in Kano hows that this virus strain is geographically widespread in Nigeria.