title: Molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
abstract: We conducted a molecular epidemiological study to investigate HIV-1 strains in Rio Grande, southern Brazil, searching for an association with transmission mode and risk behavior. Patients (185) identified at an AIDS treatment reference Hospital, from 1994 to 1997, were included; from which 107 blood samples were obtained. Nested PCR was realized once for each sample; for amplified samples (69) HIV subtypes were classified using the heteroduplex mobility assay. Subtypes identified were B (75%), C (22%) and F (3%). All infections with C were diagnosed after 1994. Comparing patients with B and C, no differences were detected regarding demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics; survival analysis did not reveal differences in HIV to AIDS evolution. A higher proportion of injecting drug users, IDU (not significant, p < .07) was found among those with C. This suggests that C may have been introduced in this area through IDU, and is being spread, probably by their sexual partners, to persons with other risk practices.
authors.affiliation: Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria Barral
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Martínez
authors.forename: Edel Figueirêdo
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Paulo César Pelegrino
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Fabiola Adriene
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Jussara
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sassi
authors.forename: Cláudio Moss
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mendonça-Signorini
authors.forename: Carlos Maurício de Figueiredo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Antunes
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D020180:Heteroduplex Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral