Distinct HIV Type 1 Strains in Different Risk Groups and the Absence of New Infections by Drug-Resistant Strains in Lithuania

Abstract

To analyze HIV-1 genotypes in Lithuania and the transmission of drug-resistant viruses, HIV-1 sequences were obtained from 138 individuals, who were diagnosed as HIV-1 infected in 1990-2008 and represented all major risk groups. Subtype A strains, dominating in the former Soviet Union (90% of cases), were found in 60% of individuals, followed by subtype B (22%) and CRF03_AB (12%) strains. The remaining 7% of the strains included variants belonging to subtype C, CRF01_AE, CRF02_AG, more complex recombinant forms, and strains that could not be reliably genotyped. Analysis of virus genotypes per risk group revealed the circulation of distinct HIV-1 strains in different risk groups: subtype A viruses were present in 82% of injecting drug users (IDUs), but less than a half of heterosexually infected individuals and cases with unknown transmission route, and none of men having sex with men (MSM). We observed no mutations causing drug resistance among 27 newly diagnosed HIV-1 cases.

Prevalence and spatiotemporal dynamics of HIV-1 Circulating Recombinant Form 03_AB (CRF03_AB) in the Former Soviet Union countries

“…At the same time, subtype A6 generated the circulating recombinant form CRF03_AB through the recombination with subtype B clade (designated B-FSU or IDU-B) [ 31 , 32 ], which led to the outbreak of HIV-infection in Kaliningrad region [ 33 , 34 ]. In subsequent years, similar outbreaks were also reported in other regions of Russia [ 35 , 36 ], Belarus [ 37 ] and Lithuania [ 26 ]. After expansion in northwestern FSU regions, the CRF03_AB was introduced to the Central Asian and Caucasian countries, where it was rarely detected during the last decade.…”

Reconstruction of the Genetic History and the Current Spread of HIV-1 Subtype A in Germany

“…This epidemic is hallmarked by a specific subtype A variant (A Former Soviet Union [A FSU ]) which is characterized by a very low genetic diversity (12,13,31,32). After the fall of the Iron Curtain, A FSU spread among PWID within the Ukraine but was also transmitted to Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union (12,(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44). As one of the fastest-growing epidemics in the world, the Eastern European epidemic has a big influence on the current epidemic in Europe (12).…”

Overview of HIV molecular epidemiology among people who inject drugs in Europe and Asia

“…The tMRCA of the sub-cluster of A FSU that caused the PWID-related epidemic was probably also present in Odessa in 1993, a few years before the huge explosion of HIV in PWID (Díez-Fuertes et al, 2015). A FSU spread rapidly to Ukraine (Bobkova, 2013; Saad et al, 2006b), Russia (Bobkov et al, 2001, 2004a), Belarus (Lazouskaya et al, 2005; Lukashov et al, 1998), Kazakhstan (Bobkov et al, 2004b; Eyzaguirre et al, 2007), Uzbekistan (Kurbanov et al, 2003), Georgia (Zarandia et al, 2006), Latvia (Balode et al, 2012, 2004; Ferdats et al, 1999), Lithuania (Caplinskas et al, 2013), Azerbaijan (Saad et al, 2006a), Tajikistan (Beyrer et al, 2009), Armenia (Laga et al, 2015b), Kyrgyzstan (Laga et al, 2015a), and the FSU republic of Moldova (Pandrea et al, 2001). Migratory waves between the FSU states and other countries, and increasing rates of heterosexually-acquired HIV infection have produced some changes in the molecular epidemiological patterns of FSU countries.…”

“…CRF03_AB has occasionally been detected in other Russian areas including Saint Petersburg (Lukashov et al, 1999), has produced an outbreak in Cherepovets (Northern Russia) (Bobkova, 2013; Kazennova et al, 2014; Smolskaya et al, 2006), is very prevalent in Ekaterinburg (Central Russia) comprising 23% of infections (Bobkova, 2013), and has become of epidemiological relevance in Belarus (Eremin et al, 2011) and Lithuania (Caplinskas et al, 2013). …”