Author/Editor		Stanojevic, Maja; Alexiev, Ivailo; Beshkov, Danail; Gokengin, Deniz; Mezei, Maria; Minarovits, Janos; Otelea, Dan; Paraschiv, Simona; Poljak, Mario; Židovec-Lepej, Snježana; Paraskevis, Dimitros
Title		HIV1 molecular epidemiology in the Balkans - a melting pot forhHigh genetic diversity
Type		članek
Source		AIDS Rev
Vol. and No.		Letnik 14, št. 1
Publication year		2012
Volume		str. 28-36
Language		eng
Abstract		The Balkans is a gateway between Europe, Asia, and the African continent, a fact with potential important consequences on the epidemiology of HIV1 infection in the region. The duration of the HIV1 epidemics in many countries of the Balkans is similar to the one in the Western European countries. However, striking differences exist in several countries of the region in both the epidemic situation and, even more so, in our knowledge about it. In particular, the molecular epidemiology of HIV in the Balkans is largely unknown. In order to gain some preliminary insight into HIV1 diversity in the region, we reviewed the available molecular epidemiology data about HIV1 diversity in 10 countries of the region: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, Turkey, and Hungary, a neighboring country to four Balkan countries. The data were obtained either from published studies or in direct communication with the participating members. The existing molecular epidemiology data revealed a broad diversity in subtype distribution among Balkan countries. In several countries, subtype B is predominant (e.g. Serbia, Slovenia, and Hungary), while in others the proportion of nonB subtypes is much larger (Albania subtype A, Romania subtype F). In some areas, HIV1 subtype distribution is marked by divergence between different risk groups or transmission routes (e.g. Croatia). Recently, HIV1/AIDS epidemics in Eastern Europe have been among the fastest growing in the world. Many major contributing factors for the breakout and spread of these epidemics are present in many of the Balkan countries, as reflected through the process of social transition, wars, unemployment, extensive drug use, high sexual risk behavior, as well as other factors. Yet, in the Balkan countries the prevalence rate of HIV1 infection is low, under 0.1 percent. (Abs. trunc. at 2000 ch.)
Descriptors		HIV-1 HIV INFECTIONS HIV SEROPOSITIVITY EPIDEMIOLOGY, MOLECULAR EUROPE ALBANIA BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA BULGARIA CROATIA GREECE HUNGARY MACEDONIA (REPUBLIC) ROMANIA SLOVENIA TURKEY