Molecular evidence that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 dissemination in a small Brazilian city was already taking place in the early 1990s.
We recently performed a molecular epidemiology survey of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in Miracema, a small city in Southeast Brazil, and found multiple monophyletic clusters, consistent with independent introductions and spread of different viral lineages in the city. Here we apply Bayesian coalescent-based methods to the two largest subtype B clusters and estimate that the most recent common ancestors that gave rise to these two transmission chains were in circulation around 1991-1992. The finding that HIV-1 spread in this Brazilian small city was already taking place at a time Aids was considered a problem restricted to large urban centers may have important public health implications.
Eyer-Silva
Walter A
WA
Laboratório de Aids & Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Bello
Gonzalo
G
Morgado
Mariza G
MG
D000328:Adult; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans