Epidemiological and genetic characteristics of the first forty cases of HIV infection in the Perm region.

: The paper sums up molecular epidemiological data on all variants of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolated in the Perm region in August 1988-March 1998. A total of 24 foci (40 cases) of HIV infection were detected; 20 of these were imported from other regions (Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria, Poland, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia). In August 1988-September 1996 viruses of 3 env subtypes (B, D, and G) were isolated in the region, and the virus was mainly sexually transmitted. All cases of HIV infection recorded in September 1996-March 1998 were detected in intravenous drug users and subjects who had sexual intercourse with HIV-infected drug users. The same 3 variants of HIV-1 with genotypes gagAenvA, gagBenvB, and gagAenvB were isolated in the Perm region during this period as in other regions of Russia.