title: Large cluster outbreaks sustain the HIV epidemic among MSM in Quebec.
abstract: HIV-1 epidemics among MSM remain unchecked despite advances in treatment and prevention paradigms. This study combined viral phylogenetic and behavioural risk data to better understand underlying factors governing the temporal growth of the HIV epidemic among MSM in Quebec (2002-2015).
  
  
  
  Phylogenetic analysis of pol sequences was used to deduce HIV-1 transmission dynamics (cluster size, size distribution and growth rate) in first genotypes of treatment-naïve MSM (2002-2015, n = 3901). Low sequence diversity of first genotypes (0-0.44% mixed base calls) was used as an indication of early-stage infection. Behavioural risk data were obtained from the Montreal rapid testing site and primary HIV-1-infection cohorts.
  
  
  
  Phylogenetic analyses uncovered high proportion of clustering of new MSM infections. Overall, 27, 45, 48, 53 and 57% of first genotypes within one (singleton, n = 1359), 2-4 (n = 692), 5-9 (n = 367), 10-19 (n = 405) and 20+ (n = 1277) cluster size groups were early infections (<0.44% diversity). Thirty viruses within large 20+ clusters disproportionately fuelled the epidemic, representing 13, 25 and 42% of infections, first genotyped in 2004-2007 (n = 1314), 2008-2011 (n = 1356) and 2012-2015 (n = 1033), respectively. Of note, 35, 21 and 14% of MSM belonging to 20+, 2-19 and one (singleton) cluster groups were under 30 years of age, respectively. Half of persons seen at the rapid testing site (2009-2011, n = 1781) were untested in the prior year. Poor testing propensity was associated with fewer reported partnerships.
  
  
  
  Addressing the heterogeneity in transmission dynamics among HIV-1-infected MSM populations may help guide testing, treatment and prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: aMcGill AIDS Centre, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research bDépartement de Microbiologie et d'Immunologie et Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) cDepartment of Mathematics and Statistics, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University dUniversité du Québec eDepartment of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada fTel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel gDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium hCenter for Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Unidade de Microbiologia, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Bluma G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: Ruxandra-Ilinca
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Ibanescu
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Otis
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moodie
authors.forename: Zehava
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: Anne-Mieke
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vandamme
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roger
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wainberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus