AEGiS-15IAC: HIV-1 subtypes circulate in South India.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

HIV-1 subtypes circulate in South India.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. A10245)

Viswanath R, Mini Jacob S, Samuel NM
TN.Dr.MGR Medical University, Chennai, India

BACKGROUND: HIV-1 Genetic variability is commonly seen with the increase of epidemic. HIV infection rate in India is 0.8%. Earlier reports suggest that as the epidemic increases there is a possibility of circulation of new subtypes. In this study, we determined the subtype of HIV-1 infected women and her partner at a high epidemic area in tamilnadu, 30% at VCTC.

METHODS: 11 paired blood samples that were collected from women and their partners from a rural Govt. Hospital, Namakkal in south India. These Patients were tested HIV positive at VCTC. All these patients had HIV thru heterosexual contact. From these samples DNA was extracted using QIAGEN Blood mini kit. Envelop region was amplified by HMA kit primers. HIV-1 subtypes were determined by Heteroduplex Mobility Assay.

RESULT:Of 10 pairs of samples tested all were belong to subtype C. But their maximum homology has varied. 6 pairs belong to subtype C3 (Indian), while 4 pairs belong to C2 (Zambian) strains. One pair of sample, subtype could not be determined, further sequencing of this sample will be done.

CONCLUSION: This preliminary data suggest that Subtype C and its varients circulate in South India. HIV-1 subtypes need to be monitored for the patients infected thrugh IV drug use and CSW's for HIV varients.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV-1, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Heterosexuality, HIV Seropositivity, India, Disease Outbreaks, Humans, Female

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A10245