HIV-positive immigrants in the Canary Islands, Spain: implications for public health in Europe.
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.
Holguín
Africa
A
Service of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Carlos III, Madrid.
Alvarez
Amparo
A
Pena
María José
MJ
Artiles
Fernando
F
Molina
Lourdes
L
Soriano
Vincent
V
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