HIV

HIV definition - medical

HIV (āchˌī-vēˈ)

noun
Human immunodeficiency virus; 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. Also called AIDS virus, human T-cell leukemia virus type III, human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type III, lymphadenopathy-associated virus.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.