title: HIV-positive immigrants in the Canary Islands, Spain: implications for public health in Europe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Canary Islands face the northwest coast of Africa and belong administratively to Spain. They represent a frequent step for the entrance of Africans into Spain and, from there, to all the European Union. The presence of HIV-1 non-B variants has already been reported in Spain and other European countries, mostly among African immigrants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to exam the genetic diversity of HIV-1 among immigrants attending a reference hospital in the Canary Islands during 2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phylogenetic analyses of the reverse transcriptase (RT), protease, and env genes were carried out in 33 immigrants found to be HIV-1 positive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HIV-1 non-B subtypes were recognized in 21 (63.6%) of the 33 infected participants. Phylogenetic analyses showed non-B sequences in 60%, 60.6%, and 48.3% of specimens, depending on the genomic region examined (RT, protease, and env, respectively). Overall, 15 viruses (45%) were found to be inter-subtype recombinants: AG in 8 (53%), GB in 4 (27%), and AB in 3 (20%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nearly two thirds of HIV-infected immigrants arriving to the Canary Islands carry non-B subtypes. Thus, the Canary Islands may be a frequent entry point for new HIV-1 variants into the European Union.
authors.affiliation: Service of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Carlos III, Madrid.
authors.forename: Africa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holguín
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pena
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Artiles
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soriano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health / Q000639:trends*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology