Emergence of complex and diverse CRF02-AG/CRF06-cpx recombinant HIV type 1 strains in Niger, West Africa.

On the basis of partial env and gag subtyping, we documented that the majority of HIV-1 strains circulating in Niger were CRF02-AG (54.3%) or CRF06-cpx (18.1%) and that 9% of the samples were possible recombinants between CRF02 and CRF06.

Predominance of CRF02-AG and CRF06-cpx in Niger, West Africa.

A total of 110 HIV-1-positive samples obtained in 1997 (n = 44) and 2000 (n = 66) were genetically characterized in the V3-V5 envelope region and the p24 gag region. The majority of the strains were CRF02-AG (54.3%) or CRF06-cpx (18.