HIV-1 infection among injection and ex-injection drug users from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: prevalence, estimated incidence and genetic diversity.
OBJECTIVE
Due to their behavioral conditions and vulnerability, injection drug users (IDUs) are prone to multiple simultaneous or sequential infections with distinct HIV-1 subtypes and variants, making them a key population for molecular epidemiology surveillance. In the present study, we evaluated HIV-1 infection seroprevalence, genetic diversity and estimated incidence among IDUs and ex-injection drug users (ex-IDUs) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


METHODS
Six hundred and eight IDUs and ex-IDUs, recruited between 1999 and 2001, were interviewed and agreed to donate 30 ml of blood. The serologic status for HIV infection was determined by two ELISAs and confirmed by IFA. CD4+ T-cell percentages were assessed by flow cytometry. HIV-1 positive samples were submitted to viral load quantification. DNA samples were PCR amplified and HIV-1 subtypes were determined using env and gag HMA.


CONCLUSIONS
Forty-eight (7.89%) individuals were seropositive for HIV-1 infection. The seroincidence of HIV-1 infection was estimated as 0.76%. HIV-1 env and gag subtyping identified 29 (69%) samples as belonging to subtype B, 7 (16.7%) to subtype F, and 6 (14.3%) discordant env/gag genomes infections, indicating the circulation of recombinant viruses in this population.
Laboratory of AIDS and Molecular Immunology, Department of Immunology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Leonidas Deane Building, Room #413, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.
Sylvia Lopes Maia
SL
Teixeira
Francisco Inácio
FI
Bastos
Paulo Roberto
PR
Telles
Mariana A
MA
Hacker
Luis F
LF
Brigido
Carmem Aparecida
CA
de F Oliveira
Vera
V
Bongertz
Mariza Gonçalves
MG
Morgado
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015752:Genes, env; D015750:Genes, gag; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D020180:Heteroduplex Analysis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies