Hiv-1 Subtype Epidemics in Ethiopia: An Assessment of the Prevalence of Non C-Subtypes in Addis Ababa

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1998-06

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the possible influx of new HIY-1 subtypes into the population of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In an unlinked anonymous cross sectional study, 150 commercial sex workers (CSW) reporting in 1997 to blo STD clinics in Addis Ababa- Kazanchis and Tekle-Haimanot were enrolled. For HIY-1 subtyping, the WHO algorithm of peptide ELISA followed by heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) and DNA sequencing was carried out. The HIY-1 prevalence among the CSW was 44.7% (67/150). Peptide ELISA identified 46.3% (31/67) plasma samples to be reactive with subtype C peptides; 30% (20/67) to be reactive with both subtype C and A peptides; 3% (2/67) to be reactive with peptides A, C and D; 1.5% (1/67) with peptides Band D and 1.5% (1/67) with peptides C and D. Six (9%) samples were indeterminate (OD just below cut-off) and another 6 (9%) were non-reactive. Subtyping performed with HMA identified 86.5% (58/67) as subtype C, 6% (4/67) as subtype A and 1.5% (1/67) as subtype D. Four plasma samples remained untypable using this technique. DNA sequencing of the gp120 Y3 regions of 8 samples (2 subtype C, 3 subtype A, 2 untypable and 1 aberrant sample by HMA) clustered all in subtype C. One subtype D sample by HMA was found to belong to the same subtype by sequencing. Four samples remained un typable by sequencing. In general, 95.5% (64/67) were subtype C, 1.5% (1/67) subtype D and 3% (2/67) were untypable. In conclusion, although this study provides evidence for influx of a non-subtype C HIY-1 strain (D) into Addis Ababa, the far majority of HIY-1 infections in this city remain of subtype C.

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Biology

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