Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and hepatitis C virus Co-infection and viral subtypes at an HIV testing center in Brazil

✍ Scribed by G.A.S. Pereira; M.M.A. Stefani; C.M.T. Martelli; M.D. Turchi; E.M.P. Siqueira; M.A.S. Carneiro; R.M.B. Martins

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 93 KB
• Volume: 78
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.20613

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing sites have been recognized recently as potential settings for hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening since both viruses share common routes of transmission. HIV and HCV prevalence, predictors, co‐infection rates, and viral subtypes were studied in 592 attendants at an anonymous HIV Counseling and Testing Center in central Brazil. Anti‐HIV‐1 and ‐HCV antibodies were screened by ELISA, and Western blots were used to confirm HIV infection. Among HIV‐seropositive samples, reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and nested‐PCR were used to subtype HIV‐1 by the Heteroduplex Mobility Analysis (HMA) and HCV by the line probe assay (INNO‐LiPA). HIV and HCV seroprevalence was 3.2% (95% CI 2.0–4.9) and 2.5% (95% CI 1.5–4.0), respectively. Intravenous drug use was the risk factor most strongly associated with both HIV and HCV infections, even in a population with few intravenous drug users (n = 6); incarceration was also associated with HCV. HIV/AIDS‐positive sexual partner and homosexual/bisexual behaviors were associated independently with HIV‐1. The prevalence of HCV infection among HIV‐positive persons was 42% (95% CI 20–66), higher than in HIV‐negative persons (1.2%; 95% CI 0.5–2.5). HIV‐1 subtype B was identified in the env and gag regions of the genome. HCV subtype 3a predominated among co‐infected persons and one HCV subtype 1a was detected. Overall, a similar prevalence of HIV and HCV infections and a higher prevalence of HCV among HIV‐positive persons were observed. Integrated HIV and HCV screening at HIV testing sites may represent a unique opportunity to provide diagnosis and prevention strategies at a single visit. J. Med. Virol. 78:719–723, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.