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HIV‐1 Subtype C in Commercial Sex Workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Summary: In this study, we have investigated the diversity of the current HIV‐1 strains circulating in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; in addition, we have evaluated the applicability of peptide enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) for HIV‐1 subtyping. Previous studies have indicated that HIV‐1 subtype C is the major subtype present in HIV‐positive samples collected from various risk groups between 1988 and 1995 in Addis Ababa. To assess the possible influx of new HIV‐1 subtypes, 150 commercial sex workers (CSW) reporting in 1997 to two Health Centers in Addis Ababa were enrolled in an unlinked anonymous cross‐sectional study. Subtyping was performed according to the World Health Organization algorithm of peptide ELISA, followed by HMA and DNA sequencing. As a result, the HIV‐1 prevalence among these CSWs was found to be 45% (67 of 150). Of the 67 samples, 66 contained HIV‐1 of subtype C and only one was of subtype D. This confirms the persistent overall presence of HIV‐1 subtype C in Addis Ababa and a low influx of other subtypes into this location.