Mother-to-child transmission of different HIV-1 subtypes among ARV Naïve infected pregnant women in Nigeria

Abstract

SUMMARYThe rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV as well as the implications of the circulating multiple subtypes to MTCT in Nigeria are not known. This study was therefore undertaken to determine the differential rates of MTCT of HIV-1 subtypes detected among infected pregnant women before ARV intervention therapy became available in Nigeria.Twenty of the HIV-positive women who signed the informed consent form during pregnancy brought their babies for followup testing at age 18-24 months. Plasma samples from both mother and baby were tested for HIV antibody at the Department of Virology, UCH, Ibadan, Nigeria. All positive samples (plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells -PBMCs) were shipped to the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium, where the subtype of the infecting virus was determined using the HMA technique.Overall, a mother-to-child HIV transmission rate of 45% was found in this cohort. Specifically, 36.4%, 66.7% and 100% of the women infected with HIV-1 CRF02 (IbNg), G and B, respectively, transmitted the virus to their babies.As far as it can be ascertained, this is the first report on the rate of MTCT of HIV in Nigeria. The findings reported in this paper will form a useful reference for assessment of currently available therapeutic intervention of MTCT in the country.

Sensitive Oligonucleotide Ligation Assay for Low-Level Detection of Nevirapine Resistance Mutations in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Quasispecies

“…In the absence of antiretroviral therapy, the frequency of MTCT is approximately 25 to 48% (2,36,38), whereas the administration of a short course of AZT therapy near the end of gestation (7,8,49) or the administration of a single dose of NVP at labor can reduce the rate of perinatal transmission to less than 20% (22,25,32,35,37). Although NVP remains very effective in the prevention of MTCT (22,32), the administration of even a single dose of NVP to HIV-infected mothers and their newborns can select for HIV-1 variants with NVP resistance mutations (8, 11-13, 15, 25, 30, 50).…”

The Prevalence and Predictors of HIV Infection among Children of Mothers who Missed Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Interventions in Makurdi, Nigeria

“…In Africa, geographical differences in the prevalence and rate of MTCT of HIV have been linked to the circulating viral genotypes in different areas with subtype B found predominantly in countries reporting lower MTCT rates of HIV and non-B subtypes and recombinant forms (CRFs) having a higher efficiency of MTCT [18][19][20][21].…”

“…The absence of both oral thrush and underweight in subjects was found to significantly protect against HIV infection, with [OR=0. 28 21.2% (14/66) and EBF 12% (12/100). The HIV infection rate was also found to increase progressively with age of subjects at presentation: ≤ 6 weeks (16.9%), > 6 weeks-6 months (37.9%), >6 months-12 months (39.7%) and > 12 months (50.0%)…”

Comparison of the COBAS/Ampliprep Taqman and Amplicor HIV-1 monitor tests in Lagos, Nigeria

“…However, it is good laboratory practice that these monitoring tools are validated before use, especially in places where various HIV-1 subtypes exist. 8,9,10 The aim of this study was therefore to compare HIV-1 RNA values obtained with the Amplicor HIV-1 monitor version 1.5 with those of the COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 assay in a routine clinical setting.…”