HIV1 and HIV2
The human immunodeficiency virus is classified into two main types,they are HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is found worldwide.
and HIV-2 is mainly found in western Africa,however it has spread to the U.S.
HIV-1 and HIV-2 have numerous similarities including the transmission modes, intracellular replication pathways and clinical effects which can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV-2 is less likely to change into AIDS because it has low transmissibility. So individuals affected by HIV-2 mostly remain non-progressors for an extensive period of time while patients infected by HIV-1 progress faster and lead to AIDS.
HIV-1 most common type of Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks the body’s immune system. The virus destroys CD4 cells, the cells which help your body to fight infections. HIV-1 can seriusly damage the immune system and lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Viruse treatment may reduce the amount of HIV-1 in your blood. Treatment can also help to increase the number of CD4 cells in your blood. These CD4 cells will help fight off other infections.
HIV1 treatments can lower the virus load to undetectable, which is a good sign that your treatment is working.
Even if the viral load become undetectable, that doesn’t mean HIV-1 is cured. One can still pass the virus to other people. So it’s important to stay on the treatment and take precautions not to put others at risk.
Raise your CD4 cell count
HIV-1 virus use CD4 cells to make replica of itself and spread through the body. This can destroy the CD4 cells in the process. This weakens the immune system and person will get sick fast.
HIV-1 treatment will help to slow down the virus destruction of the CD4 cells.
HIV-2 diagnosis can be done when a patient has no symptoms but positive blood work whcih indicates the individual have HIV. The Multispot HIV-1/HIV-2 rapid test is the method for such differentiation between the two viruses. Recommendations for the screening and diagnosis of HIV has always been to use enzyme immunoassays that detect HIV-1 group O, HIV-1 and HIV-2.
HIV-2 infection is generally characterized by a longer non symptomatic stage, lower plasma viral loads, and lower mortality rate than HIV-1 infection.
HIV testing is done with a sample of either blood or saliva.
Negative results shows normal, means that no antibodies found and you may not be infected with HIV. Most people who are infected with HIV will develop antibodies to the virus within 2 months. During this time, a person may have HIV but this test can't detect it. One may want to repeat the test more than 3 months after the possible exposure if your results are negative.
A positive result means that HIV antibodies were found and that you may have HIV.
