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HIV-1 infection among injection and ex-injection drug users from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: prevalence, estimated incidence and genetic diversity.

Teixeira SL, Bastos FI, Telles PR, Hacker MA, Brigido LF, de F Oliveira CA, Bongertz V, Morgado MG

Laboratory of AIDS and Molecular Immunology, Department of Immunology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Leonidas Deane Building, Room #413, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Due to their behavioral conditions and vulnerability, injection drug users (IDUs) are prone to multiple simultaneous or sequential infections with distinct HIV-1 subtypes and variants, making them a key population for molecular epidemiology surveillance. In the present study, we evaluated HIV-1 infection seroprevalence, genetic diversity and estimated incidence among IDUs and ex-injection drug users (ex-IDUs) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. STUDY DESIGN: Six hundred and eight IDUs and ex-IDUs, recruited between 1999 and 2001, were interviewed and agreed to donate 30 ml of blood. The serologic status for HIV infection was determined by two ELISAs and confirmed by IFA. CD4+ T-cell percentages were assessed by flow cytometry. HIV-1 positive samples were submitted to viral load quantification. DNA samples were PCR amplified and HIV-1 subtypes were determined using env and gag HMA. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Forty-eight (7.89%) individuals were seropositive for HIV-1 infection. The seroincidence of HIV-1 infection was estimated as 0.76%. HIV-1 env and gag subtyping identified 29 (69%) samples as belonging to subtype B, 7 (16.7%) to subtype F, and 6 (14.3%) discordant env/gag genomes infections, indicating the circulation of recombinant viruses in this population.

Published 6 October 2004 in J Clin Virol, 31(3): 221-6.
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