High prevalence and autochtonous transmission of human pegivirus (HPgV-1) in blood donors in the extreme southern of Brazil.

Recent studies have suggested that human pegivirus 1 (HPgV-1) may have some pathogenic potential. In the southernmost region of Brazil, studies on HPgV-1 are scarce, and circulating genotypes have not yet been identified. The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HPgV-1 among blood donors from the southernmost region of Brazil and identify the genotypes involved with associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 281 blood donors, who had their plasma subjected to RNA extraction, complementary DNA synthesis, HPgV-1 detection by nested polymerase chain reaction, and subsequent genotyping. The observed prevalence of HPgV-1-RNA was 21.7%. The only variable that was significantly associated with virus infection was the relationship status of the donor. Single or no fixed partner blood donors were twice as likely to have HPgV-1 (95% CI, 1.12 to 4.56; P = 0.02). Genotype 2-subtypes 2b (69%) and 2a (29%)-was the most prevalent. In the absence of risk factors for parenteral transmission, it is likely that sexual transmission was the route of infection in the individuals studied. Further work will be needed to determine whether this virus is inert in the population, or if there are potential deleterious effects in infected individuals.

Prevalence of human pegivirus (HPgV) infection in patients carrying HIV-1C or non-C in southern Brazil.

Previous studies have demonstrated that coinfection with HPgV is a protective factor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, leading to slower disease progression, and longer survival after established disease. The present study sought to estimate the prevalence of HPgV infection and associated risk factors in patients harboring C or non-C HIV-1 subtypes followed-up at HU-FURG, southern Brazil. Samples from 347 HIV-1-infected subjects were subjected to plasma RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, HPgV RNA detection, and HIV-1 genotyping. The overall prevalence of HPgV RNA was 34%. Individuals aged 18-30 years had higher chances of infection compared with those 50 years or older (95%CI 1.18-52.36, P = 0.03). The number of sexual partner between one and three was a risk factor for HPgV infection (95%CI 1.54-10.23; P < 0.01), as well as the time since diagnosis of HIV-1 ≥ 11 years (95%CI 1.01-2.89; P = 0.04). Patients infected with HIV non-C subtypes had six times more chance of being HPgV-infected when compared to subtype C-infected subjects (95%CI 2.28-14.78; P < 0.01). This was the first study conducted in southern Brazil to find the circulation of HPgV. HIV/HPgV coinfection was associated with a longer survival among HIV+ patients. Of novelty, individuals infected by HIV non-C subtypes were more susceptible to HPgV infection. However, additional studies are needed to correlate the HIV-1 subtypes with HPgV infection and to clarify cellular and molecular pathways through which such associations are ruled. J. Med. Virol 88:2106-2114, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Molecular and Clinical Profiles of Human Pegivirus Type 1 Infection in Individuals Living with HIV-1 in the Extreme South of Brazil.

Human pegivirus type 1 (HPgV-1) infection has been associated with a beneficial effect on the prognosis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-coinfected individuals. However, the mechanisms involved in this protection are not yet fully elucidated. To date, circulating HPgV-1 genotypes in HIV-1-infected individuals have not yet been identified in the extreme south of Brazil. The present study aimed to determine the genotypic circulation of HPgV-1 and the influence of HPgV-1 status and persistence time on the evolution of HIV-1 infection. A retrospective cohort of 110 coinfected individuals was analyzed. Samples were subjected to viral RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, nested PCR, and genotyping. Genotypes 1 (2.8%), 2 (47.9% of subtype 2a and 42.3% of subtype 2b), and 3 (7%) were identified. In antiretroviral treatment-naïve subjects HPgV-1 subtype 2b was associated with lower HIV-1 viral load (VL) rates (p = 0.04) and higher CD4+ T-cell counts (p = 0.03) than was subtype 2a, and the positivity for HPgV-1 was associated with higher CD4+ T-cell counts (p = 0.02). However, there was no significant difference in HIV-1 VL between HPgV-1-positive and HPgV-1-negative subjects (p = 0.08). There was no significant association between the different groups in HPgV-1 persistence and median HIV-1 VL (p = 0.66) or CD4+ T-cell counts (p = 0.15). HPgV-1 subtype 2b is associated with better prognosis of HIV-1 infection. Although HPgV-1 infection is persistent, our data suggest that the time of infection does not influence HIV-1 VL or CD4+ T-cell counts in coinfected subjects.