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HIV - abbreviation for (Medicine / Pathology) human immunodeficiency virus; the cause of AIDS. Two strains have been identified: HIV-1 and HIV-2. A retrovirus that causes AIDS by infecting helper T cells of the immune system. The most common serotype, HIV-1, is distributed worldwide, while HIV-2 is primarily confined to West Africa.
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AIDS -A severe immunological disorder caused by the retrovirus HIV, resulting in a defect in cell-mediated immune response that is manifested by increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and to certain rare cancers, especially Kaposi''s sarcoma. It is transmitted primarily by exposure to contaminated body fluids, especially blood and semen. |
