Increasing diversity of HIV-1M serotypes in French blood donors over a 10-year period (1985-1995). Retrovirus Study Group of the French Society of Blood Transfusion.
OBJECTIVE
Phylogenetic analysis of gene sequences of HIV-1 has led to the classification of isolates into a major group (M) of viruses, itself divided into subtypes (A to I), and a minor group (O) of rare isolates. Subtype B viruses are the most prevalent in Western countries but little is known about the dynamics of diffusion of the other subtypes in these regions. The prevalence of B subtypes and non-B subtypes in French blood donors between 1985 and 1995 was evaluated.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted in 490 blood donors, identified as positive for antibody to HIV-1, by twelve French blood banks between 1985 and 1995. Serological subtyping was performed with a subtype-specific enzyme immunoassay, the reliability for genotyping of which has been demonstrated previously.


RESULTS
Of 450 typable samples, 48 (10.7%) were non-B subtypes. Non-B reactive samples were found in all of the regions. An increasing prevalence of individuals infected by non-B viruses was observed, from approximately 4% in the early period to more than 20% in 1994-1995 (P = 0.0004). Non-B viruses did not appear to be restricted to patients with direct or indirect epidemiological links to non-European populations.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed an increasing diversity of HIV-1 strains in the population of blood donors residing in France. This stresses the necessity to broaden the surveillance of HIV-1 diversity in order to improve measures to prevent HIV-1 infections.
Barin
F
F
Laboratoire de Virologie, Equipe Postulante Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 117, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Bretonneau, Tours, France.
Courouce
A M
AM
Pillonel
J
J
Buzelay
L
L
D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012703:Serotyping