SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION IN BORNO STATE OF NIGERIA BY SENTINEL SURVEILLANCE

A serosurvey for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was carried out in three well-separated population centers in Borno State of Nigeria in 1989-1990. The study subjects were 1,259 made up of sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic attenders, pregnant women, female prostitutes, and blood donors. Sera were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmation was done by Western blotting. The overall seroprevalence was 1.67% (21/1,259), with no significant differences from one population center to another. There were, however, significant differences among the population groups studied: prostitutes, 4.24%; STD clinic attenders, 1.67%; blood donors, 0.71%; and pregnant women, 0.24%. Of the 21 seropositives, 18 were positive for HIV-1 only; 1 was positive for HIV-2 only; and 2 were positive for both HIV-1 and HIV-2. All three HIV-2-positive sera were from prostitutes. Prevalence rates found in this study showed marked increases from 2 to 3 years earlier. There is therefore the need for a vigorous and sustained intervention program.