The distribution of subtypes A through F of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in Honduras was analyzed in 120 HIV-1 positive serum samples by V3 peptide serotyping and HIV-1 cDNA sequencing. In the Honduran HIV-1 epidemic, subtype B was detected in 98 of 99 subtyped samples.
PIP: The distribution of HIV-1 subtypes A through E in Honduras was analyzed in 120 HIV-1 positive serum samples by V3 peptide serotyping and HIV-1 cDNA sequencing. Serum samples from 100 HIV-1-seropositive Hondurans were obtained through the country's central AIDS reference laboratory as well as an additional 20 samples from HIV-1-seropositive cases from the Associacion Lucha Contra El SIDA of Tegucigalpa. These cases comprise 14% of all Honduran HIV-1 infection cases diagnosed in 1994. The samples from the country's central AIDS reference laboratory came from 46 males and 54 females aged 3.5-56 years of median age 30 years from all eight of the country's health districts. 49 patients were asymptomatic, 21 had AIDS-related complex, 25 had AIDS, and 5 were of unknown immunostatus. In the initial screening, it was possible to serotype 96 of the 120 samples, 95 of which were subtype B. An eventual 98 subtype B samples were detected among the 99 subtyped samples. One sample was identified as subtype A.