Predominance of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 subtype B in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
We analyzed the genetic variability and phylogenetic relationships among 28 HIV-2 strains collected from patients enrolled in an HIV epidemiologic study in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, during 1995-1996. Although both subtype A (n = 8; 29%) and subtype B (n = 20; 71%) were present in this sampling, the majority of infections were caused by subtype B viruses. These findings contrasted with the reported predominance of HIV-2 subtype A in other African countries. The broad genetic diversity identified among protease gene sequences for HIV-2 subtype A (6%; range 3-15%) and subtype B (7%; range, 2-12%), and their presence in Abidjan during the 1980s, document a long coexistence of two viral subtypes in Ivory Coast. Our data indicate that viruses of subtypes A and B have contributed to the HIV-2 epidemic in Ivory Coast.
Pieniazek
D
D
Division of AIDS, STD, and TB Laboratory Research, National Centers for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. dxp1@cdc.gov
Ellenberger
D
D
Janini
L M
LM
Ramos
A C
AC
Nkengasong
J
J
Sassan-Morokro
M
M
Hu
D J
DJ
Coulibally
I M
IM
Ekpini
E
E
Bandea
C
C
Tanuri
A
A
Greenberg
A E
AE
Wiktor
S Z
SZ
Rayfield
M A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015750:Genes, gag; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged