Molecular epidemiology of vertical human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmission in Greece: evidence of non-B subtypes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the subtype classification of the circulating virus strains among human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected children in Greece.


METHODS
Since the beginning of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic in Greece in 1982, 23 children have been reported to be vertically infected with HIV-1. Blood samples were available for 19 of these children, and the C2-C4 env region was successfully amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for 16 subjects. HIV-1 subtype was established by the heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) in 16 subjects and confirmed by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis in 8 subjects.


RESULTS
Most subjects (9; 56%) fell into subtype B. However, a substantial proportion (44%) were classified as subtypes A (3; 19%), C (1; 6%), D (1; 6%), and I (2; 12%). According to epidemiologic information, 5 of 7 children infected with non-B HIV-1 subtypes were born to Greek parents.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings clearly suggest that non-B strains have been introduced into Greece, providing evidence that HIV epidemic in this country will probably change profile over time. In addition, subtype I was identified in 2 HIV-1-infected children, both of whom were born to Greek parents.
Paraskevis
D
D
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Athens University Medical School, Greece.
Magiorkinis
E
E
Theodoridou
M
M
Mostrou
G
G
Papaevangelou
V
V
Kiosses
V G
VG
Hatzakis
A
A
Matsaniotis
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D020180:Heteroduplex Analysis; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004279:DNA, Viral