Stochastic simulation of the impact of antiretroviral therapy and HIV vaccines on HIV transmission; Rakai, Uganda.
OBJECTIVE
To model the effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and HIV vaccines on HIV transmission using empirical data from studies in Rakai, Uganda.


METHODS
A stochastic simulation model estimated HIV incidence, probabilities of transmission per coital act and the reproductive number (R0) with ART and HIV vaccines. Model inputs included Rakai data on HIV transmission probabilities per coital act by HIV viral load, age and gender, and sexual behaviors. The impacts of therapy were derived from US programs, and vaccine assumptions included preventive efficacies ranging from 25 to 75%. Component projection models estimated the numbers of HIV-infected persons over 20 years.


RESULTS
The model incidence [1.57/100 person years (PY)] closely fitted empirical data (1.5/100 PY). Simulations of ART using DHHS treatment guidelines, predicted declines in HIV incidence, but R0 remained > 1.0, and the numbers of HIV-positive persons did not change substantially over 20 years. Preventive vaccines with > 50% efficacy and > 50% population coverage could reduce R0 to < 1.0, and substantially reduce the number of HIV-infected persons over 20 years. Concurrent ART and a preventive vaccine can have substantial impact at lower levels of population coverage and would markedly reduce the HIV infected population over 20 years. However, behavioral disinhibition with increased numbers of sexual partners in either ART or vaccine recipients, increased HIV incidence and diminished intervention impact.


CONCLUSIONS
ART alone cannot control the HIV epidemic in mature epidemics such as Rakai, and persons in need of therapy will increase over time. ART in combination with a low efficacy vaccine could control the epidemic, if behavioral disinhibition is prevented.
Gray
Ronald H
RH
Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Li
Xianbin
X
Wawer
Maria J
MJ
Gange
Stephen J
SJ
Serwadda
David
D
Sewankambo
Nelson K
NK
Moore
Richard
R
Wabwire-Mangen
Fred
F
Lutalo
Tom
T
Quinn
Thomas C
TC
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D015995:Prevalence; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D019562:Viral Load
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents