Distribution of HIV-1 subtypes circulating in Slovakia (2009-2012).

Slovakia is one of the European countries reporting a low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection. The HIV-1 subtype B was previously the most prevalent in Slovakia and mostly associated with men having sex with men (MSM) (Habekova et al., 2010). The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of individual HIV-1 subtypes among the virus-positive individuals diagnosed in 2009-2012 in Slovakia and to compare these data with those from 2004-2008. The HIV-1 subtype B exhibited the highest prevalence (86.1%) and was mostly associated with MSM as stated before. HIV-1 non-B subtypes were found in 13.9% of patients, led by CRF01_AE (6.3%) and followed by subtype C (2.8%), F1 (1.4%), CRF03_AB (1.4%), G (0.7%), CRF02_AG (0.7%), and CRF12_BF (0.7%). The incidence of non-B subtypes varied in 2009-2012, showing a maximum in 2012. MSM represented the main risk group for total HIV-1 (68.1%) as well as B subtype (63.9%) infections in Slovakia. In contrast, the heterosexual contact represented the main route of HIV-1 acquisition of the non-B subtype virus infection. Together with the increase in the number of patients infected with the viruses of non-B subtype also other changes were observed: infections with the viruses of non-B subtype became more common among MSM and not so strongly associated with heterosexual contact. All these findings may help to design the right strategy for retaining of HIV epidemic in Slovakia at low level.

Genetic subtypes of HIV type 1 circulating in Slovakia.

Slovakia belongs to the group of European countries with a low prevalence of HIV infection. The major proportion of HIV-positive cases in Slovakia is still represented by MSM, followed by heterosexuals infected through unprotected sexual intercourse. This study was conducted to update the description of HIV subtypes circulating in Slovakia. HIV-1 partial pol gene sequences from 143 individuals were prospectively collected from 2004 to 2008 and analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis based on HIV-1 partial pol gene sequences revealed the highest prevalence of HIV-1 B subtype (93.0 %), predominantly associated with the MSM group. Ten (7.0%) individuals were infected with HIV-1 non-B subtypes. The pure subtypes were more frequent (7; 4.9%) than CRFs (3; 2.1%) and their occurrence was as follows: subtype C (3; 2, 1%), subtype A (2; 1.4%), subtype F (2; 1.4%), CRF_01AE (1; 0.7%), CRF_02AG (1; 0.7%), and CRF08_BC (1; 0.7%). Data show slightly increasing HIV-1 subtype diversity, with HIV-1 subtype B still having the highest prevalence in the Slovak-infected population.

Blood and placental concentrations of cadmium, lead, and mercury in mothers and their newborns.

Placental transfer of cadmium, lead and mercury was studied under the conditions of environmental exposures of pregnant women to these heavy metals. Fifty pregnant women from industrial area and a similar control group from a semirural area were examined. Cadmium, lead and total mercury levels were determined in maternal erythrocytes and plasma, in placenta, and in erythrocytes and plasma of umbilical cord blood using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Except for the cadmium plasma concentration in the control area, levels of the three metals were higher in maternal than in cord blood. The mean plasma values (arithmetic mean) of cadmium, lead, and mercury in industrial area were 0.53, 6.37, and 0.37 micrograms.100 ml-1 in maternal blood and 0.30, 4.82, and 0.31 micrograms.100 ml-1 in cord blood. Highest values of the correlation coefficients were found between the cadmium and mercury concentrations in maternal and cord blood erythrocytes. No striking effect of the place of residence of pregnant women on the heavy metal concentrations in biological materials could be found.