Trends in HIV-2 Seroprevalence at the National Reference Center of HIV from 2005 to 2014 in Lome, Togo

Background: In Togo, the HIV/AIDS epidemic is characterized by the circulationof the 2 subtypes of HIV. Thus, patients infected with are diagnosedand monitored in the care centers. Objective: To document the trendof prevalence over a decade of activities of the National ReferenceCenter for HIV tests and screening (CNR-VIH). Methods: A cross sectionalstudy was carried out from the screening data archived from January 2005 toDecember 2014 at the CNR-VIH, a laboratory located in the Sylvanus OlympioUniversity Hospital (CHU SO) Lome. The sampling consisted of adultsand children outpatients or those who were hospitalized in CHU SO, subjectspresenting for voluntary testing, pregnant women and patients or samples referredfor HIV confirmation. All samples were tested for HIV-1 and HIV-2infections by combining ELISA and rapid diagnostic tests. Result: During thedecade, 34,077 subjects were screened for HIV infection. The overall prevalenceof HIV infection was 20.70% (7055/34077). In 10 years, the prevalenceof HIV infection in CNR-VIH decreased significantly from 35.40% CI95% [34.50% - 36.20%] in 2005 to 14.20% CI95% [13.60% - 14.70%] in 2014 (p =0.03). The prevalence of HIV-1, and dual HIV1u0026HIV-2 was respectively20.40%, 0.23% and 0.07%, with annual prevalence of between0.07% and 0.39%. The differences between the prevalence over thedecade were not statistically significant (p u003e 0.15). A 4-year-old child frommother-to-child transmission was diagnosed. Sixty-five percent ofadult patients were over 40 years of age with an average age of 43.5 ± 11.3years. Conclusion: Data from the National Reference Center for HIV Tests in Togo over the last ten years confirm the existence of a weak epidemic of HIV-2 infection with a tendency towards stability.