Objective: In April 1996, HIV-1 infection was first found among both commercial blood donors and IDUs in Guangxi. In order to identify the source of HIV-1 transmission and analyze the trend of HIV-1 epidemic, the study was carried out.
Methods: HIV-1 genetic subtypes were determined by peptide enzyme immunoassays (PEIA), RT-PCR and DNA sequencing.
Results: Four subtypes of Group M HIV-1 were found in Guangxi:subtype B' (Thai B), C,D and E. Subtype E and C (1 person) were circulating among IDUs and hetrosexual, while subtype B' and D (1 person) were among commercial blood donors. Subtype B' infections were discovered among a group of commercial blood donors and one of them was infected by subtype D.
Conclusion: It is the first report of subtype D infection and subtype E that were identified in China. This observation indicated that subtype E HIV-1 was spread into China from Southeast Asia, and a new epidemic region with subtype E HIV-1 would emerge in southern China. Serotyping might be a useful screening method for HIV-1 molecular epidemiological analysis.