SEROLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF HIV-1 VARIANT SUBTYPE STRAINS IN TRANSMISSION IN NAIROBI

In a bid to determine the HIV-1 subtype variants in transmission in Na irobi and its possible association with clinical status, we screened 2 07 confirmed HIV-1 positive patients visiting HIV/AIDS laboratory at t he Virus Research Centre in Nairobi between January and March 1994. We used a selfmade ELISA obtained From an established panel of HIV-1 V3 loop peptides (ANRS, France) and derived from seven isolates: MN, HXB2 , SC, Z6, Z2, ELI and CDC4. Test samples were obtained from 95 blood d onors and medical examination attendees, 57 patients with chronic diar rhoea, 31 confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis, 16 with pneumonia and 12 h erpes zoster. Out of the total, 21.5% had antibodies against the MN st rain, 19.1 % had against the Z2 strain while reaction against the HXB2 strain was observed in 17.2%. SC, CDC4, 26 and ELI had prevalences of 11.5%, 6.2%, 5.3% and 3.8% respectively. Fifteen per cent of the test ed sera showed no reaction to any of the used peptides. Strong and sig nificant associations were observed between the total number of strain s a sample react to and the clinical state. We infer that both the Nor th American consensus strains (MN and (HXB2) and the African isolates (Z2 and Z6) are predominant in Nairobi. The correlation between antibo dy reactivity and clinical state is an interesting observation that ne ccesitates an expanded study and, the use of strain specific peptides maybe a sensitive and easier method for use for molecular epidemiologi cal purposes.