Detection of human feces pecovirus in newly diagnosed HIV patients in Brazil.

Circular single stranded DNA viruses (CRESS DNA) encoding a homologous replication-associated protein (REP) have been identified in most of eukaryotic groups. It is not clear yet the role in human diseases or details of the life cycle of these viruses. Recently, much interest has been raised in the evolutionary history of CRESS DNA owing to the increasing number of new sequences obtained by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in distinct host species. In this study we describe two full-length CRESS DNA genomes obtained of two newly diagnosed HIV patients from São Paulo State, Brazil. The initial BLASTx search indicated that both sequences (named SP-FFB/2020 and SP-MJMS/2020) are highly similar (98%) to a previous CRESS DNA sequence detected in human fecal sample from Peru in 2016 and designated as pecovirus (Peruvian stool-associated circo-like virus). This study reported for the first time the Human feces pecovirus in the feces of two newly diagnosed HIV patients in Brazil. Our comparative analysis showed that although pecoviruses in South America share an identical genome structure they diverge and form distinct clades. Thus, we suggest the circulation of different species of pecoviruses in Latin America. Nevertheless, further studies must be done to examine the pathogenicity of this virus.

An HIV-1 transmission case possibly associated with manicure care.

A recently diagnosed 22-year-old female with no history of transmission risk factors prompted a thorough investigation of possible alternative risk factors. As the patient had evidence of advanced disease and laboratory data compatible with long-standing infection, past events were reviewed. About 10 years ago the patient shared manicure utensils with an older cousin, later known to be HIV infected; this prompted the phylogenetic analysis of the HIV sequences of both patients. Phylogenetic analyses of partial HIV-1 polymerase and envelope sequences from both patients revealed highly related sequences, with an estimated common ancestor date (about 11 years ago) that coincided with the putative sharing of manicure instruments, during a time in which the cousin was not virally suppressed. Taken together, the information about the infection of this patient suggests the use of shared manicure instruments as an alternative route of fomite HIV-1 transmission.