Give A Detailed Account Of AIDS?

History:
The Aids was reported by some physicians in early q980's in young males having one or more complex symptoms such as: severe pneumonia
vascular cancer
general loss of immune system function
sudden weight loss
swollen lymph nodes.
All these young patients were homosexuals. Later the disease was reported in non-homosexuals who were given blood or blood products.

Discovery:
In 984 the agent causing disease was identified by research teams from Pasture institute in France and national Institute of health in USA. In 1986 the virus was named as Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Site of Attack:
The major cell infected by HIV is the helper T- lymphocytes, which is major component of immune system. As the HIV infection continues in the host, the decrease of helper T-lymphocytes result in failure of the immune system and the infected person is susceptible to other disease. HIV can also infect cells in central nervous system.
Host Specificity of HIV:
The latest research on HIV reveals that the viruses infect and multiply in monkeys but do not cause disease in them. This suggests that HIV is host specific.