HIV Type 1 transmission networks among men having sex with men and heterosexuals in Kenya.
We performed a molecular phylogenetic study on HIV-1 polymerase sequences of men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexual patient samples in Kenya to characterize any observed HIV-1 transmission networks. HIV-1 polymerase sequences were obtained from samples in Nairobi and coastal Kenya from 84 MSM, 226 other men, and 364 women from 2005 to 2010. Using Bayesian phylogenetics, we tested whether sequences clustered by sexual orientation and geographic location. In addition, we used trait diffusion analyses to identify significant epidemiological links and to quantify the number of transmissions between risk groups. Finally, we compared 84 MSM sequences with all HIV-1 sequences available online at GenBank. Significant clustering of sequences from MSM at both coastal Kenya and Nairobi was found, with evidence of HIV-1 transmission between both locations. Although a transmission pair between a coastal MSM and woman was confirmed, no significant HIV-1 transmission was evident between MSM and the comparison population for the predominant subtype A (60%). However, a weak but significant link was evident when studying all subtypes together. GenBank comparison did not reveal other important transmission links. Our data suggest infrequent intermingling of MSM and heterosexual HIV-1 epidemics in Kenya.
1 HIV Monitoring Foundation , Amsterdam, The Netherlands .
Daniela
D
Bezemer
Nuno Rodrigues
NR
Faria
Amin
A
Hassan
Raph L
RL
Hamers
Gaudensia
G
Mutua
Omu
O
Anzala
Kishor
K
Mandaliya
Patricia
P
Cane
James A
JA
Berkley
Tobias F
TF
Rinke de Wit
Carole
C
Wallis
Susan M
SM
Graham
Matthew A
MA
Price
Roel A
RA
Coutinho
Eduard J
EJ
Sanders
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020010:Heterosexuality; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult; D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics
D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus