Emerging Infectious Diseases (Dec 1998)

Introduction of HIV-2 and Multiple HIV-1 Subtypes to Lebanon

  • Danuta Pieniazek,
  • James Baggs,
  • Dale J. Hu,
  • Ghassan M. Matar,
  • Alexander M. Abdelnoor,
  • Jacques E. Mokhbat,
  • Marwan Uwaydah,
  • Abdul Rahman Bizri,
  • Artur Ramos,
  • Luiz M. Janini,
  • Amilcar Tanuri,
  • Carol Fridlund,
  • Charles Schable,
  • Leo Heyndrickx,
  • Mark A. Rayfield,
  • Walid Heneine

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid0404.980418
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 4
pp. 649 – 656

Abstract

Read online

HIV genetic variability, phylogenetic relationships, and transmission dynamics were analyzed in 26 HIV-infected patients from Lebanon. Twenty-five specimens were identified as HIV-1 and one as HIV-2 subtype B. The 25 strains were classified into six env-C2-V3 HIV-1 subtypes: B (n = 10), A (n = 11), C (n = 1), D (n = 1), G (n = 1), and unclassifiable. Potential recombinants combining parts of viral regions from different subtypes Aenv/Dpol/Agag, Genv/Apol and the unclassifiable-subtypeenv/ unclassifiable-subtypepol/Agag were found in three patients. Epidemiologic analysis of travel histories and behavioral risks indicated that HIV-1 and HIV-2 subtypes reflected HIV strains prevalent in countries visited by patients or their sex partners. Spread of complex HIV-subtype distribution patterns to regions where HIV is not endemic may be more common than previously thought. Blood screening for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 in Lebanon is recommended to protect the blood supply. HIV subtype data provide information for vaccine development.

Keywords