Detection of human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 phylogenetic clusters with multidrug resistance mutations among 2011 to 2017 blood donors from the highly endemic Northern Brazilian Amazon.

BACKGROUND: This study describes transmitted drug resistance (TDR) in blood donors diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV-1) infection from 2011 to 2017 in three reference public blood centers from the Northern Brazilian Amazon. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study on HIV-positive blood donors from HEMOAM, Manaus, Amazonas, AM (n = 198); HEMERON, Porto Velho, Rondônia, RO (n = 20); and HEMORAIMA, Boa Vista, Roraima, RR (n = 9). HIV-1 pol sequences (protease, reverse transcriptase) were analyzed for drug resistance mutations (DRMs) using the Calibrated Population Resistance tool (Stanford). TDR/DRM clusters were investigated by phylogenetic analysis after removing positions associated with drug resistance of Subtype B sequences from untreated and treated subjects from Northern Brazil. RESULTS: Transmitted drug resistance/DRM in blood donors was 11% (25 of 227), all of them from HEMOAM. Most blood donors with TDR/DRM had multiple and similar DRMs. Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) mutations predominated (10.1%), followed by nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) mutations (5.3%) and protease inhibitor mutations (0.4%). Dual-class NNRTI/NRTI mutations represented 4.8%. Three highly supported Subtype B monophyletic clades mostly composed by individuals from Amazonas with TDR/DRM mutations were identified. The largest transmission cluster contained 10 sequences, eight from HEMOAM and two sequences described previously (one from a treated subject from Amazonas and the other one from Roraima). This cluster was characterized by NRTI (D67N, T69D, T215S/F/L, K219Q) and NNRTI (K101H, K103 N, G190A) mutations. The other two transmission clades comprised only three and two sequences from HEMOAM sharing the E138A NNRTI mutation. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of transmission clusters of multidrug-resistant viruses in blood donors from Amazonas highlight the need of continued monitoring of TDR/DRM and the importance of pretreatment genotyping in the highly endemic Amazonas state.

HIV-1 transmitted drug resistance and genetic diversity among patients from Piauí State, Northeast Brazil.

HIV-1 transmitted-drug-resistance and genetic diversity are dynamic and may differ in distinct locations/risk groups. In Brazil, increased AIDS incidence and related mortality have been detected in the Northeast region, differently from the epicenter in the Southeast. This cross-sectional study describes transmitted-dru- resistance and HIV-1 subtypes in protease/PR and reverse transcriptase/RT regions among antiretroviral naïve patients from Piauí State, Northeast Brazil. Among 96 patients recruited 89 (92.7%) had HIV-1 PR/RT regions sequenced: 44 females and 45 males, 22 self-declared as men who have sex with men. Transmitted-drug-resistance was investigated by CPR tool (Stanford HIV-1 Drug Resistance/SDRM). HIV-1 subtypes were assigned by REGA and phylogenetic inference. Overall, transmitted-drug-resistance rate was 11.2% (10/89; CI 95%: 5.8-19.1%); 22.7% among men who have sex with men (5/22; CI 95%: 8.8-43.4%), 10% in heterosexual men (2/20; CI 95%: 1.7-29.3%) and 6.8% in women (3/44; CI 95%: 1.8-17.4%). Singleton mutations to protease-inhibitor/PI, nucleoside-reverse-transcriptase-inhibitor/NRTI or non-nucleoside-reverse-transcriptase-inhibitor/NNRTI predominated (8/10): PI mutations (M46L, V82F, L90M); NRTI mutations (M41L, D67N) and NNRTI mutations (K103N/S). Dual class resistance mutations to NRTI and NNRTI were observed: T215L (NRTI), Y188L (NNRTI) and T215N (NRTI), F227L (NNRTI). Subtype B prevailed (86.6%; 77/89), followed by subtype F1 (1.1%, 1/89) and subtype C (1.1%, 1/89). B/F1 and B/C intersubtype recombinants represented 11.2% (10/89). In Piauí State extensive testing of incidence and transmitted-drug-resistance in all populations with risk behaviors may help control AIDS epidemic locally.

Sexually transmitted bacterial infections among young women in Central Western Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Studies on sexually transmitted infections in Brazil are done mainly in large metropolises and screening is available for pregnant women only. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Treponema pallidum infection among young non-pregnant women in non-clinical settings in middle-sized cities of Central Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional community-based sample of 1072 participants was included. Sexually active women (64.9%) provided first-catch urine samples for PCR investigation of chlamydial and gonococcal infection. Syphilis was tested in serum. Univariate analysis investigated risk factors for chlamydial infection. Multivariate logistic regression included associations with a p-value <0.20. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 18 years; 73.2% reported unprotected intercourse, 37.6% were married/cohabiting, and 5% reported a previous STI. Prevalence rates of C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, and T. pallidum were 9.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 7.4-12.4%), 0.7% (95% CI 0.2-1.9%), and 0.15% (95% CI 0.0-0.7%), respectively. After adjustments, being <20 years old (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.90, 95% CI 1.07-3.37) and having three or more lifetime sexual partners (aOR 2.57, 95% CI 1.46-4.53) were associated with the risk for chlamydial infection. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high prevalence of chlamydial infection and sexual risk behaviors in this population. These findings are important to guide screening strategies in Brazil.

Molecular characteristics of HIV type 1 infection among prisoners from Central Western Brazil.

Abstract This study among antiretroviral-experienced prisoners from central western Brazil investigated mutations associated with secondary resistance to nucleoside/nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI/NNRTI), protease inhibitors (Stanford HIV-1 Resistance/International Aids Society Databases), and HIV-1 subtypes (REGA/phylogenetic analyses/SimPlot). Twenty-seven prisoners from three prisons (16 males and four females from Mato Grosso do Sul State and seven males from Goiás State) had HIV-1 protease and reverse transcriptase fragments sequenced after nested PCR. Median age was 35 years. Seven males and two females were intravenous drug users, three males referred homosexual practice. Resistance mutations were present in 37% (10/27): NRTI+NNRTI mutations (n=5), NRTI mutations (n=3), multidrug-resistant mutations (n=2). Subtype B (48%), subtype C (11%), B/F1, B/C, and F1/B/C recombinants (40.7%) were detected. Possible intraprison transmissions were identified: two intravenous drug user females (subtype C); two clusters among homosexual males (subtype B and B/F1). High resistance rate and possible intraprison transmission highlight the need for improved prevention, counseling, and treatment strategies for prisoners.