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Molecular epidemiology of HIV‐1 subtypes based on analysis of pol sequences in Slovenia, 1996–2005
Author(s) -
Babič Dunja Z.,
Poljak Mario,
Seme Katja,
Tomažič Janez,
Vidmar Ludvik
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.20654
Subject(s) - epidemiology , molecular epidemiology , virology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , medicine , cohort , genotype , biology , genetics , gene
Various studies have demonstrated the increasing prevalence of non‐B HIV‐1 subtypes in Western Europe. In contrast, knowledge about the molecular epidemiology of HIV‐1 in Central and Eastern Europe is limited. The objective of present study was to investigate the HIV‐1 molecular diversity as well as time trends in HIV‐1 subtype distribution in Slovenia. A retrospective molecular epidemiological survey was conducted on a cohort representing 88% (131/149) of all HIV‐1 infected patients diagnosed between January 1996 and June 2005. The study revealed that subtype B is a predominant HIV‐1 subtype in Slovenia (110/131; 84%), although a relatively high proportion (21/131; 16%) of non‐B subtypes was found. Among them, a high proportion of recombinant (10/21; 48%) and different unclassified strains (8/21; 38%) were identified. Non‐B subtype viruses were predominant among heterosexuals (19/21; 90%) and subtype B viruses among men who have sex with men (84/110; 76%). Importantly, 86% (18/21) of patients infected with non‐B subtypes were of Slovenian nationality. In contrast to Western European countries, a significant increase ( P = 0.015) in the proportion of men who have sex with men was observed recently among newly diagnosed HIV‐1 infected patients in Slovenia. J. Med. Virol. 78:997–1002, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.