In South Brazil the circulation of two HIV-1 subtypes with different characteristics represents an important scenario for the study of the impact of HIV-1 diversity on the evolution of the HIV-1 epidemic and AIDS disease. HIV-1 B, the predominant variant in industrialized countries and HIV-1 C, the most prevalent subtype in areas with rapid epidemic growth, are implicated in most infections. We evaluated blood samples from 128 antiretroviral (ARV) naïve patients recruited at entry to the largest HIV outpatient service in Porto Alegre. Based on partial pol region sequencing, HIV-1 C was observed in 29%, HIV-1 B in 22.6% and, the recently identified CRF31_BC, in 23.4% of 128 volunteers. Other variants were HIV-1 F in 10% and other mosaics in 5.5%. In order to evaluate the association of socio-behavioral characteristics and HIV-1 subtypes, interviews and laboratory evaluation were performed at entry. Our data suggest an established epidemic of the three major variants, without any evidence of partitioning in either of the subgroups analyzed. However, anal sex practices were associated with subtype B, which could indicate a greater transmissibility of non-B variants by vaginal intercourse. This study provides baseline information for epidemiologic surveillance of the changes of the molecular characteristics of HIV-1 epidemics in this region.
Background: HIV/HTLV co-infection rates in Brazilian cities were 1.5% to 10% in São Paulo, 5.7% in Rio de Janeiro and 20% in Salvador. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV/HTLV co-infection in patients undergoing treatment at the STD/HIV Specialized Healthcare Provider of the City of Porto Alegre.Methodology: This is a prevalence study, with a sample of 1741 HIV-positive patients. The ELISA method using the HTLV-Murex HTLV 1 and 2 kit (Murex Biotech Ltd) was employed for serum antibody analysis for HTLV 1/2, in addition to the Western Blot method using the HTLV Blot 2.4 kit (Gene labs Diagnostics, Singapore). The SPSS program 14.0 version was used for data analysis. Chi-square test was used to assess the categorical variables and p<0.05 was considered significant. Results:The rate of HIV/HTLV co-infection was 13.1% (95% CI: 11.6 to 14.6). Of the 137 patients tested, 62 (45.3%) were HTLV 1, 39 (28.5%) were HTLV 2, 11 (8%) were HTLV 1 and 2, 10 (7.3%) were HTLV 1/2, 12 were indeterminate (8.8%), and 3 (2.2%) were negative. The most prevalent type of HTLV virus was HTLV 1 (P = 0.028).
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