title: HIV-1 epidemic in Warao Amerindians from Venezuela: spatial phylodynamics and epidemiological patterns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We previously reported HIV-1 infection in Warao Amerindians from Venezuela. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent and the dynamic of HIV-1 dissemination in eight Warao communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  HIV-1 infection was evaluated in 576 Warao Amerindians from the Orinoco Delta. Partial HIV-1 pol sequences were analyzed to reconstruct the spatiotemporal and demographic dynamics of the epidemic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HIV-1 antibodies were present in 9.55% of Warao Amerindians, ranging from 0 to 22%. A significantly higher prevalence was found in men (15.6%) compared with women (2.6%), reaching up to 35% in men from one community. All but one isolates were classified as subtype B. Warao's HIV-1 subtype-B epidemic resulted from a single viral introduction at around the early 2000s. After an initial phase of slow growth, the subtype B started to spread at a fast rate (0.8/year) following two major routes of migration within the communities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A dramatic high prevalence was documented in almost all the communities of Warao Amerindians from the Orinoco Delta tested for HIV-1 infection. This epidemic resulted from the dissemination of a single HIV-1 subtype B founder strain introduced about 10 years ago and its size is probably doubling every year, creating a situation that can be devastating for this vulnerable Amerindian group.
authors: Dirección Regional de Salud Estado Delta Amacuro, Tucupita, Venezuela.
authors: Julian A
authors: JA
authors: Villalba
authors: Gonzalo
authors: G
authors: Bello
authors: Mailis
authors: M
authors: Maes
authors: Yoneira F
authors: YF
authors: Sulbaran
authors: Domingo
authors: D
authors: Garzaro
authors: Carmen L
authors: CL
authors: Loureiro
authors: Hector R
authors: HR
authors: Rangel
authors: Jacobus H
authors: JH
authors: de Waard
authors: Flor H
authors: FH
authors: Pujol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D058872:Epidemics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D058974:Phylogeography; D015995:Prevalence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult; D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus