The HIV type 1 epidemic in Belarus: predominance of Eastern European subtype A strains and circulation of subtype B viruses.
To study the molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Belarus, where the rapid spread of HIV-1 has been registered since 1996, we obtained HIV-1 sequences from 30 individuals living in five cities in both the main geographic areas of the epidemic (Gomel and Minsk regions) and territories where spreading of the epidemic remains limited (Grodno region). Analysis of env V3 and gag p17/p24 sequences demonstrated that infections in all 12 injecting drug users and 14 of 18 individuals infected through sexual contacts were caused by subtype A viruses that are specific for the epidemic in the former Soviet Union (IDU-A viruses), while the remaining four infections were caused by phylogenetically unrelated to each other subtype B viruses. Extrapolation of these results to the total population of HIV-1-infected individuals in Belarus allowed us to estimate that IDU-A viruses account for nearly 95% of HIV-1 infections in Belarus.
Lazouskaya
Natallia V
NV
Department of Clinical Virology, Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 220114 Minsk, Belarus.
Eremin
Vladimir F
VF
Adema
Karen W
KW
Gasich
Elena L
EL
Baan
Elly
E
Lukashov
Vladimir V
VV
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000235:genetics; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D002094:Republic of Belarus / Q000453:epidemiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013045:Species Specificity; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D014505:Urban Population; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015488:HIV Antigens; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C054858:p17 protein, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1