Circulating recombinant form CRF02_AG in South America

With the objective of monitoring the distribution of HIV-1 subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs)in South America, population-based surveillance studies were performed in seven countries. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell, filter paper, fresh blood, and cocultivation samples were collected from HIV-positive patients from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, during a 7-year period(1995-2001). DNA was prepared and HIV envelope subtypes were determined by heteroduplex mobility as-say and DNA sequencing from 1289 HIV-positive samples. While subtypes B and F were the most commonly observed subtypes, two CRF02_AG strains were detected, in Ecuador. This is the first report of the existence of this CRF in South America.