title: Prevalence of drug-resistant mutations in newly diagnosed drug-naïve HIV-1-infected individuals in a treatment site in the waterberg district, limpopo province.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the prevalence of resistance mutations in drug-naïve HIV-infected individuals at the Bela-Bela treatment site to gather information on the presence of antiretroviral (ARV) drug-resistant viruses in drug-naïve populations, so as to improve treatment guidance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Drug-naïve HIV-l1-infected individuals were sequentially recruited between February 2008 and December 2008 from individuals visiting the voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services of the Bela-Bela HIV/AIDS Wellness Clinic. Viral subtyping was done by phylogenetic analysis; drug-resistant mutations were determined according to the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Interpretation and the International AIDS Society-USA Guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A drug-resistant mutation prevalence of 3.5% (95% confidence interval 0.019796-0.119077) comprising Y181C and L33F was observed; 98% of the viruses were HIV-1 subtype C on the protease (PR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) gene regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of drug-resistant mutations in drug-naïve persons may be low in Bela-Bela after 8 years of access to antiretroviral treatment (ART), and resistance testing before initiating treatment may not be needed.
authors.affiliation: AIDS Virus Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province.
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nwobegahay
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bessong
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masebe
authors.forename: Lufuno
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mavhandu
authors.forename: Cecile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manhaeve
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ndjeka
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Selabe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral