title: High prevalence of non-B HIV-1 subtypes in seamen and their sexual partners in Croatia.
abstract: Travel influences the spread of non-B subtypes of HIV in Europe. The aim of this study was to assess whether the spread of non-B subtypes occurred in Croatia, a country with a low level HIV infection. Phylogenetic analysis of the reverse transcriptase and protease genes was undertaken in 145 Croatian patients with the following risks for HIV-infection: men who have sex with men (n = 64), heterosexual contact (n = 54), intravenous drug use (n = 21), bisexual contact (n = 4) and intravenous drug use plus heterosexual exposure (n = 2). The sample included 25 seamen and 13 steady female sexual partners of seamen. Overall, 38 (26%) of HIV-patients were infected with non-B subtypes. Non-B subtype infections were found only in patients with a possible heterosexual exposure. Non-B infections were most frequent in seamen and their regular female partners (in 27 of 38 seamen and their partners, 71%). The relative distribution of non-B subtypes was as follows: A, 8%; C, 26%; F, 3%; CRF01_AE, 8%; CRF02_AG, 34%; CRF05_DF, 5%; CRF06_cpx, 3%; CRF10_CD 8%; and subtype U, 5%. There were altogether 19 heterosexual couples, phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the paired samples were related in all cases. Non-B subtypes were found only in individuals with a heterosexual risk, mainly in seamen and their partners.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Divisions of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martha Kathleen
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ramirez-Piedad
authors.forename: Snjezana Zidovec
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Lepej
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yerly
authors.forename: Josip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Begovac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D016333:HIV Protease / Q000235:genetics; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase / Q000235:genetics; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: C514824:reverse transcriptase, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D016333:HIV Protease