| A team of researchers led by Professor | | | | carried out by the major tests currently used in blood |
| Jean-Christophe Plantier has identified a new variant | | | | transfusion and diagnosis. The confirmation tests |
| of the AIDS virus in a patient with Cameroon. This | | | | were also positive. But the negativity of some of the |
| new variant is very similar to a form recently | | | | viral load tests has allowed the suspicion of HIV |
| discovered among gorillas. | | | | infection by atypical. |
| Remember that there are two types of HIV: HIV-1 | | | | The origin of this new group P is probably related to |
| and the large majority of HIV-2 uncommon. HIV-1 is | | | | a passage of SIV virus gorilla to man as has already |
| divided into three groups: M, the source of the global | | | | been described in the case of HIV-1 groups M and N |
| pandemic, N and O are rarer. But HIV-1 might | | | | from contamination by handling meat infected |
| therefore welcome a new group called P, with the | | | | chimpanzees. This case is currently with the first |
| discovery of the team of Prof. Jean-Christophe | | | | described this virus and other research will be needed |
| Plantier in collaboration with the University of | | | | to assess the importance of dissemination of this |
| Manchester (United Kingdom - Dr David Robertson) | | | | strain. |
| and Hospital Saint-Louis de Paris (Prof. François | | | | In a statement, the National Agency for Research on |
| Simon). This new variant is very close to a virus | | | | AIDS and viral hepatitis (ANRS) said that this case |
| identified 3 years ago among populations of gorillas in | | | | "also illustrates the effectiveness of the monitoring |
| central Africa. It was first isolated in one patient | | | | networks of the diversity of HIV strains in France |
| followed Camerounaise home in the Paris region since | | | | and the robustness of the screening tools and used |
| 2004. | | | | for confirmation." The agency also points out that |
| Aged 62 years, the patient born in Cameroon lived in | | | | "This work was supported by the Institute of Health, |
| different cities around Yaounde before being tested | | | | through the Associate Laboratory National Reference |
| HIV positive in 2004, shortly after he moved to Paris. | | | | Center of HIV from Rouen, the Agency National |
| Although the disease has not declared, it presents a | | | | Researchers and viral hepatitis specialists carried out |
| problem with his immune system (with numbers of | | | | this project. |
| CD4 around 300 cells/mm3). The screening was | | | | |