Understanding The Types Of HIV: HIV-1 & HIV-2

Posted by Aariel Almeida on October 21st, 2019

HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system of the person. There are two major types of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Both types of HIV are long-lasting but can be managed with the right healthcare providers. With the right medication, people with HIV can live longer and healthier.

Understanding the different types of HIV helps in increasing awareness of the condition. This article is about the differences and similarities between HIV-1 and HIV-2

HIV-1, which was discovered first, is the most common type worldwide. There are 4 groups of HIV-1 type virus, of which M is the ‘major’ group and is the cause for the majority of the global HIV epidemic. The other three groups (N, O, and P) are quite rare.O-Group represents up to 5% of infections in several parts of West and Central African countries, and Group N and P have been rarely identified in Cameroon. The same HIV-1 antibody tests can be used for all groups. 

When a person is suffering from HIV, the virus constantly creates copies of itself. Some strains multiply faster and are passed from one person to another easily. Only if the healthcare provider knows what strain the patient has, can treat better. This can be easily identified through a blood test and the same test can also help in determining the kind of drug patients should take. 

More than 55%, HIV-2 is genetically different from HIV-1. It is found predominantly in West Africa. HIV-2 slowly becoming more common in India, although numbers there are still relatively small. Small numbers of cases have also been reported in Portugal, France, other European countries such as including the UK and America, largely in individuals of West African origin or their sexual partners.

There are two main HIV-2 subtypes, A and B. When compared to HIV-1, it cannot transmit easily. Study shows that the most common mode of transmission is heterosexual sex. However, the rates of HIV-2 by heterosexual transmission are five to 10 times lower than those of HIV-1.

When it comes to pregnant women and mothers and babies, transmission rates of HIV-2 are 20–30 times lower than those of HIV-1.

Both HIV-1 and HIV-2 can be transmitted through the fluid that contains the virus, such as:

• Blood

• Sexual fluids

• Breast milk

People are also infected by the virus when they do sex without protection and get in contact with used syringes and needles.

Avoiding such things can help in lowering the risk of transmitting HIV. if a person takes HIV medications timely and is able to maintain an undetectable viral load, the risk of transmission is lowered. This can also significantly reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission.