Prevalence and Risk Factors of HIV-2 Infection Among HIV-Diagnosed Patients in Lagos State

Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 2 (HIV-2), though less pathogenic and less transmissible than HIV-1, is endemic in West Africa and poses distinct diagnostic and treatment challenges due to its natural resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. In Lagos State, South West Nigeria, the prevalence of HIV-2 and HIV-1/HIV-2 dual infections among diagnosed HIV patients is inadequately characterised. This study determines the prevalence of HIV-2 and HIV-1/2 dual infection among HIV-diagnosed patients at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) antiretroviral clinic. A cross-sectional study will screen 400 archived plasma samples from HIV-positive patients using a validated HIV-1/2 discriminatory rapid assay, with Western blot or nucleic acid testing for equivocal results. Risk factor data including country of origin, age, sex, sexual network characteristics, and ART history will be extracted from clinic records. Published data suggest HIV-2 prevalence of 1 to 5 percent in Lagos-based HIV cohorts, though routine discrimination in clinical practice remains inconsistent. Findings will quantify the HIV-2 burden at LUTH and identify clinical subgroups warranting targeted diagnostic discrimination, supporting the revision of ART initiation protocols to account for HIV-2 natural resistance patterns. This study strengthens the evidence for integrating routine HIV type discrimination into clinical HIV management guidelines in Nigeria. Keywords: HIV-2, seroprevalence, HIV-1/2 dual infection, Lagos, antiretroviral therapy