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Fiorentino M, Coulibaly B, Couderc C, Keita BD, Anoma C, Dah E, Mensah E, Aka TN, Touré JR, Camara D, Kokouba AR, Maradan G, Mora M, Bourrelly M, Riegel L, Rojas-Castro D, Spire B, Laurent C, Sagaon-Teyssier L. Men Who Have Sex with Both Men and Women in West Africa: Factors Associated with a High Behavioral Risk of Acquiring HIV from Male Partners and Transmission to Women (CohMSM ANRS 12324-Expertise France). ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2024; 53:757-769. [PMID: 37973698 PMCID: PMC10844348 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-023-02715-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
HIV is highly prevalent in men who have sex with men (MSM) in West Africa. Many MSM in the region also have sex with women (MSMW). Accordingly, they are a potential bridge subpopulation for HIV transmission to women. We aimed to evaluate the proportions and characteristics of West African MSMW at high behavioral risk of acquiring HIV from male partners and transmitting it to female partners (HBRMF). The cohort ANRS-12324 CohMSM Study included 630 HIV-negative MSM in Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, and Togo. Among MSMW (i.e., with ≥ 1 female partner) in the cohort, HBRMF was identified using trajectory models based on seven at-risk sexual practices with male and female partners, including inconsistent condom use, multiple partnerships, and receptive same-sex anal intercourse. To assess the relevance of using trajectory models, we compared the proportions of participants who seroconverted during the cohort follow-up among those at HBRMF and those not at HBRMF. Factors associated with HBRMF were identified using a generalized estimation equation logistic regression model accounting for longitudinal data. Approximately half (47%) of the 304 MSMW (22% of all CohMSM study participants) were at HBRMF. This group accounted for 75% of the 28 HIV seroconversions observed during follow-up (p = 0.001). HBRMF was positively associated with being aged < 25 years (aOR 95% CI 1.67 [1.23-2.27]), being sexually attracted only to men (1.97 [1.38-2.78]), feelings of loneliness (1.92 [1.38-2.65]), and homonegative violence score (1.22 [1.05-1.41]). HBRMF was negatively associated with having had both stable and casual female partners in the previous 6 months (0.34 [0.20-0.60] vs. only a stable female partner). HBRMF tended to be negatively associated with having ≥ 4 sexual intercourses with female partners in the previous four weeks (0.54 [0.27-1.06] vs. no intercourse). Establishing official relationships with women might be a strategy for young and/or stigmatized MSMW to comply with social pressure to display a heterosexual lifestyle. However, this seems to increase the risk of HIV transmission to female partners. In the present study, almost half of MSMW were at HBRMF. This result stresses the need to adapt HIV research and prevention to MSMW and their female partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Fiorentino
- IRD, Inserm, Sciences Economiques and Sociales de la Santé and Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, 13385, France.
| | - Bakary Coulibaly
- ARCAD Santé PLUS, Centre Intégré de Recherche, de Soins et d'Action Communautaire, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Bintou Dembélé Keita
- ARCAD Santé PLUS, Centre Intégré de Recherche, de Soins et d'Action Communautaire, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Elias Dah
- Association African Solidarité, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | | | | | | | - Drissa Camara
- ARCAD Santé PLUS, Centre Intégré de Recherche, de Soins et d'Action Communautaire, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Gwenaëlle Maradan
- IRD, Inserm, Sciences Economiques and Sociales de la Santé and Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, 13385, France
- Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France
| | - Marion Mora
- IRD, Inserm, Sciences Economiques and Sociales de la Santé and Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, 13385, France
| | - Michel Bourrelly
- IRD, Inserm, Sciences Economiques and Sociales de la Santé and Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, 13385, France
| | - Lucas Riegel
- Coalition PLUS, Laboratoire de recherche communautaire, Pantin, France
| | - Daniela Rojas-Castro
- IRD, Inserm, Sciences Economiques and Sociales de la Santé and Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, 13385, France
- Coalition PLUS, Laboratoire de recherche communautaire, Pantin, France
| | - Bruno Spire
- IRD, Inserm, Sciences Economiques and Sociales de la Santé and Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, 13385, France
| | | | - Luis Sagaon-Teyssier
- IRD, Inserm, Sciences Economiques and Sociales de la Santé and Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, 13385, France
- ARCAD Santé PLUS, Centre Intégré de Recherche, de Soins et d'Action Communautaire, Bamako, Mali
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Nduva GM, Otieno F, Kimani J, McKinnon LR, Cholette F, Sandstrom P, Graham SM, Price MA, Smith AD, Bailey RC, Hassan AS, Esbjörnsson J, Sanders EJ. Phylogeographic Assessment Reveals Geographic Sources of HIV-1 Dissemination Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Kenya. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:843330. [PMID: 35356525 PMCID: PMC8959701 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.843330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 transmission dynamics involving men who have sex with men (MSM) in Africa are not well understood. We investigated the rates of HIV-1 transmission between MSM across three regions in Kenya: Coast, Nairobi, and Nyanza. We analyzed 372 HIV-1 partial pol sequences sampled during 2006-2019 from MSM in Coast (N = 178, 47.9%), Nairobi (N = 137, 36.8%), and Nyanza (N = 57, 15.3%) provinces in Kenya. Maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetics and Bayesian inference were used to determine HIV-1 clusters, evolutionary dynamics, and virus migration rates between geographic regions. HIV-1 sub-subtype A1 (72.0%) was most common followed by subtype D (11.0%), unique recombinant forms (8.9%), subtype C (5.9%), CRF 21A2D (0.8%), subtype G (0.8%), CRF 16A2D (0.3%), and subtype B (0.3%). Forty-six clusters (size range 2-20 sequences) were found-half (50.0%) of which had evidence of extensive HIV-1 mixing among different provinces. Data revealed an exponential increase in infections among MSM during the early-to-mid 2000s and stable or decreasing transmission dynamics in recent years (2017-2019). Phylogeographic inference showed significant (Bayes factor, BF > 3) HIV-1 dissemination from Coast to Nairobi and Nyanza provinces, and from Nairobi to Nyanza province. Strengthening HIV-1 prevention programs to MSM in geographic locations with higher HIV-1 prevalence among MSM (such as Coast and Nairobi) may reduce HIV-1 incidence among MSM in Kenya.
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Affiliation(s)
- George M. Nduva
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | - Joshua Kimani
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Lyle R. McKinnon
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Francois Cholette
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- National Microbiology Laboratory at the JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Paul Sandstrom
- National Microbiology Laboratory at the JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Susan M. Graham
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Matt A. Price
- IAVI, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adrian D. Smith
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert C. Bailey
- Nyanza Reproductive Health Society, Kisumu, Kenya
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Amin S. Hassan
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Joakim Esbjörnsson
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Eduard J. Sanders
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Nduva GM, Otieno F, Kimani J, Wahome E, McKinnon LR, Cholette F, Majiwa M, Masika M, Mutua G, Anzala O, Graham SM, Gelmon L, Price MA, Smith AD, Bailey RC, Baele G, Lemey P, Hassan AS, Sanders EJ, Esbjörnsson J. Quantifying rates of HIV-1 flow between risk groups and geographic locations in Kenya: A country-wide phylogenetic study. Virus Evol 2022; 8:veac016. [PMID: 35356640 PMCID: PMC8962731 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veac016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In Kenya, HIV-1 key populations including men having sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID) and female sex workers (FSW) are thought to significantly contribute to HIV-1 transmission in the wider, mostly heterosexual (HET) HIV-1 transmission network. However, clear data on HIV-1 transmission dynamics within and between these groups are limited. We aimed to empirically quantify rates of HIV-1 flow between key populations and the HET population, as well as between different geographic regions to determine HIV-1 'hotspots' and their contribution to HIV-1 transmission in Kenya. We used maximum-likelihood phylogenetic and Bayesian inference to analyse 4058 HIV-1 pol sequences (representing 0.3 per cent of the epidemic in Kenya) sampled 1986-2019 from individuals of different risk groups and regions in Kenya. We found 89 per cent within-risk group transmission and 11 per cent mixing between risk groups, cyclic HIV-1 exchange between adjoining geographic provinces and strong evidence of HIV-1 dissemination from (i) West-to-East (i.e. higher-to-lower HIV-1 prevalence regions), and (ii) heterosexual-to-key populations. Low HIV-1 prevalence regions and key populations are sinks rather than major sources of HIV-1 transmission in Kenya. Targeting key populations in Kenya needs to occur concurrently with strengthening interventions in the general epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- George M Nduva
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Box 117 SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, KEMRI-Center For Geographic Medicine Research, P.O. Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Frederick Otieno
- Nyanza Reproductive Health Society, United Mall, P.O. Box 1764, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Joshua Kimani
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Max Rady College of Medicine, Room 543-745 Bannatyne Avenue, University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus), Winnipeg MB R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Wahome
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, KEMRI-Center For Geographic Medicine Research, P.O. Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Lyle R McKinnon
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Max Rady College of Medicine, Room 543-745 Bannatyne Avenue, University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus), Winnipeg MB R3E 0J9, Canada
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X7, Congella 4013, South Africa
| | - Francois Cholette
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Max Rady College of Medicine, Room 543-745 Bannatyne Avenue, University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus), Winnipeg MB R3E 0J9, Canada
- National Microbiology Laboratory at the JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, 745 Logan Avenue, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Maxwell Majiwa
- Kenya Medical Research Institute/Center for Global Health Research, KEMRI-CGHR, P.O. Box 20778-00202, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Moses Masika
- Faculty of Health Sciences 3RD Floor Wing B, KAVI Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gaudensia Mutua
- Faculty of Health Sciences 3RD Floor Wing B, KAVI Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Omu Anzala
- Faculty of Health Sciences 3RD Floor Wing B, KAVI Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Susan M Graham
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, KEMRI-Center For Geographic Medicine Research, P.O. Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Office of the Chair, UW Box # 351619, Seattle, DC, USA
| | - Larry Gelmon
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Max Rady College of Medicine, Room 543-745 Bannatyne Avenue, University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus), Winnipeg MB R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Matt A Price
- IAVI Global Headquarters, 125 Broad Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10004, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Mission Hall: Global Health & Clinical Sciences Building, 550 16th Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158-2549, USA
| | - Adrian D Smith
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Robert C Bailey
- Nyanza Reproductive Health Society, United Mall, P.O. Box 1764, Kisumu, Kenya
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Guy Baele
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Clinical and Evolutionary and Computational Virology, Rega-Herestraat 49-box 1040, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Philippe Lemey
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Clinical and Evolutionary and Computational Virology, Rega-Herestraat 49-box 1040, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Amin S Hassan
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Box 117 SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, KEMRI-Center For Geographic Medicine Research, P.O. Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Eduard J Sanders
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, KEMRI-Center For Geographic Medicine Research, P.O. Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Joakim Esbjörnsson
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Box 117 SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
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Nduva GM, Nazziwa J, Hassan AS, Sanders EJ, Esbjörnsson J. The Role of Phylogenetics in Discerning HIV-1 Mixing among Vulnerable Populations and Geographic Regions in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review. Viruses 2021; 13:1174. [PMID: 34205246 PMCID: PMC8235305 DOI: 10.3390/v13061174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To reduce global HIV-1 incidence, there is a need to understand and disentangle HIV-1 transmission dynamics and to determine the geographic areas and populations that act as hubs or drivers of HIV-1 spread. In Sub-Saharan Africa (sSA), the region with the highest HIV-1 burden, information about such transmission dynamics is sparse. Phylogenetic inference is a powerful method for the study of HIV-1 transmission networks and source attribution. In this review, we assessed available phylogenetic data on mixing between HIV-1 hotspots (geographic areas and populations with high HIV-1 incidence and prevalence) and areas or populations with lower HIV-1 burden in sSA. We searched PubMed and identified and reviewed 64 studies on HIV-1 transmission dynamics within and between risk groups and geographic locations in sSA (published 1995-2021). We describe HIV-1 transmission from both a geographic and a risk group perspective in sSA. Finally, we discuss the challenges facing phylogenetic inference in mixed epidemics in sSA and offer our perspectives and potential solutions to the identified challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- George M. Nduva
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden; (G.M.N.); (J.N.); (A.S.H.)
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi 80108, Kenya;
| | - Jamirah Nazziwa
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden; (G.M.N.); (J.N.); (A.S.H.)
| | - Amin S. Hassan
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden; (G.M.N.); (J.N.); (A.S.H.)
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi 80108, Kenya;
| | - Eduard J. Sanders
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi 80108, Kenya;
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, The University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
| | - Joakim Esbjörnsson
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden; (G.M.N.); (J.N.); (A.S.H.)
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, The University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
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Fiorentino M, Eubanks A, Coulaud PJ, Couderc C, Keita BD, Anoma C, Dah E, Mensah E, Maradan G, Bourrelly M, Riegel L, Rojas-Castro D, Yaya I, Spire B, Laurent C, Sagaon-Teyssier L. Homonegativity, sexual violence and condom use with women in men who have sex with men and women in West Africa. AIDS 2021; 35:681-687. [PMID: 33306548 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000002782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The study aimed to explore longitudinal interactions between homonegativity and sexual behaviors with female partners among HIV-negative West African men who have sex with men and women (MSMW). DESIGN AND METHOD The community-based cohort CohMSM ANRS 12324 - Expertise France enrolled MSM in Togo, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Mali. Sociobehavioral data were collected every 6 months. Using 30-month follow-up data, a multiprobit analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between psychosocial and behavioral variables ex-ante (t - 1) and ex-post (t). RESULTS MSMW (n = 326) accounted for half of all participants in CohMSM. They reported inconsistent condom use with women in 39% of visits. Perceived and internalized homonegativity at t - 1 tended to lead to sexual violence toward women at t (P < 0.1), which was associated with inconsistent condom use with them at t (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Given the high HIV prevalence in West African MSM, widespread condom-less sex with women in MSMW, and the aggravating effect of social and internalized homonegativity, more research in the MSMW subpopulation is needed to assess the risk of HIV bridging to women and to design support activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Fiorentino
- INSERM, IRD, Aix Marseille Univ, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille
| | - August Eubanks
- INSERM, IRD, Aix Marseille Univ, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille
| | - Pierre-Julien Coulaud
- INSERM, IRD, Aix Marseille Univ, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille
| | | | | | | | - Elias Dah
- Association African Solidarité, Ouagadougou
- Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Gwenaëlle Maradan
- INSERM, IRD, Aix Marseille Univ, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille
| | - Michel Bourrelly
- INSERM, IRD, Aix Marseille Univ, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille
| | | | | | - Issifou Yaya
- IRD, INSERM, Univ Montpellier, TransVIHMI, Montpellier, France
| | - Bruno Spire
- INSERM, IRD, Aix Marseille Univ, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille
| | | | - Luis Sagaon-Teyssier
- INSERM, IRD, Aix Marseille Univ, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille
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Macharia GN, Yue L, Staller E, Dilernia D, Wilkins D, Song H, McGowan E, King D, Fast P, Imami N, Price MA, Sanders EJ, Hunter E, Gilmour J. Infection with multiple HIV-1 founder variants is associated with lower viral replicative capacity, faster CD4+ T cell decline and increased immune activation during acute infection. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008853. [PMID: 32886726 PMCID: PMC7498102 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 transmission is associated with a severe bottleneck in which a limited number of variants from a pool of genetically diverse quasispecies establishes infection. The IAVI protocol C cohort of discordant couples, female sex workers, other heterosexuals and men who have sex with men (MSM) present varying risks of HIV infection, diverse HIV-1 subtypes and represent a unique opportunity to characterize transmitted/founder viruses (TF) where disease outcome is known. To identify the TF, the HIV-1 repertoire of 38 MSM participants' samples was sequenced close to transmission (median 21 days post infection, IQR 18-41) and assessment of multivariant infection done. Patient derived gag genes were cloned into an NL4.3 provirus to generate chimeric viruses which were characterized for replicative capacity (RC). Finally, an evaluation of how the TF virus predicted disease progression and modified the immune response at both acute and chronic HIV-1 infection was done. There was higher prevalence of multivariant infection compared with previously described heterosexual cohorts. A link was identified between multivariant infection and replicative capacity conferred by gag, whereby TF gag tended to be of lower replicative capacity in multivariant infection (p = 0.02) suggesting an overall lowering of fitness requirements during infection with multiple variants. Notwithstanding, multivariant infection was associated with rapid CD4+ T cell decline and perturbances in the CD4+ T cell and B cell compartments compared to single variant infection, which were reversible upon control of viremia. Strategies aimed at identifying and mitigating multivariant infection could contribute toward improving HIV-1 prognosis and this may involve strategies that tighten the stringency of the transmission bottleneck such as treatment of STI. Furthermore, the sequences and chimeric viruses help with TF based experimental vaccine immunogen design and can be used in functional assays to probe effective immune responses against TF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gladys N. Macharia
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ling Yue
- Emory Vaccine Centre, Yerkes National Primate Research Centre, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Ecco Staller
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dario Dilernia
- Emory Vaccine Centre, Yerkes National Primate Research Centre, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Daniel Wilkins
- Emory Vaccine Centre, Yerkes National Primate Research Centre, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Heeyah Song
- Emory Vaccine Centre, Yerkes National Primate Research Centre, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Edward McGowan
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, London, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah King
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pat Fast
- IAVI, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Nesrina Imami
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew A. Price
- IAVI, New York, NY, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Eduard J. Sanders
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust, Kilifi, Kenya
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, United Kingdom
| | - Eric Hunter
- Emory Vaccine Centre, Yerkes National Primate Research Centre, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Jill Gilmour
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, London, United Kingdom
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Nduva GM, Hassan AS, Nazziwa J, Graham SM, Esbjörnsson J, Sanders EJ. HIV-1 Transmission Patterns Within and Between Risk Groups in Coastal Kenya. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6775. [PMID: 32317722 PMCID: PMC7174422 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63731-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 transmission patterns within and between populations at different risk of HIV-1 acquisition in Kenya are not well understood. We investigated HIV-1 transmission networks in men who have sex with men (MSM), injecting drug users (IDU), female sex workers (FSW) and heterosexuals (HET) in coastal Kenya. We used maximum-likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetics to analyse new (N = 163) and previously published (N = 495) HIV-1 polymerase sequences collected during 2005-2019. Of the 658 sequences, 131 (20%) were from MSM, 58 (9%) IDU, 109 (17%) FSW, and 360 (55%) HET. Overall, 206 (31%) sequences formed 61 clusters. Most clusters (85%) consisted of sequences from the same risk group, suggesting frequent within-group transmission. The remaining clusters were mixed between HET/MSM (7%), HET/FSW (5%), and MSM/FSW (3%) sequences. One large IDU-exclusive cluster was found, indicating an independent sub-epidemic among this group. Phylodynamic analysis of this cluster revealed a steady increase in HIV-1 infections among IDU since the estimated origin of the cluster in 1987. Our results suggest mixing between high-risk groups and heterosexual populations and could be relevant for the development of targeted HIV-1 prevention programmes in coastal Kenya.
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Affiliation(s)
- George M Nduva
- Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Amin S Hassan
- Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | - Susan M Graham
- KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joakim Esbjörnsson
- Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
- The University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Eduard J Sanders
- KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- The University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Vasylyeva TI, du Plessis L, Pineda-Peña AC, Kühnert D, Lemey P, Vandamme AM, Gomes P, Camacho RJ, Pybus OG, Abecasis AB, Faria NR. Tracing the Impact of Public Health Interventions on HIV-1 Transmission in Portugal Using Molecular Epidemiology. J Infect Dis 2020; 220:233-243. [PMID: 30805610 PMCID: PMC6581889 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estimation of temporal changes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission patterns can help to elucidate the impact of preventive strategies and public health policies. METHODS Portuguese HIV-1 subtype B and G pol genetic sequences were appended to global reference data sets to identify country-specific transmission clades. Bayesian birth-death models were used to estimate subtype-specific effective reproductive numbers (Re). Discrete trait analysis (DTA) was used to quantify mixing among transmission groups. RESULTS We identified 5 subtype B Portuguese clades (26-79 sequences) and a large monophyletic subtype G Portuguese clade (236 sequences). We estimated that major shifts in HIV-1 transmission occurred around 1999 (95% Bayesian credible interval [BCI], 1998-2000) and 2000 (95% BCI, 1998-2001) for subtypes B and G, respectively. For subtype B, Re dropped from 1.91 (95% BCI, 1.73-2.09) to 0.62 (95% BCI,.52-.72). For subtype G, Re decreased from 1.49 (95% BCI, 1.39-1.59) to 0.72 (95% BCI, .63-.8). The DTA suggests that people who inject drugs (PWID) and heterosexuals were the source of most (>80%) virus lineage transitions for subtypes G and B, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The estimated declines in Re coincide with the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy and the scale-up of harm reduction for PWID. Inferred transmission events across transmission groups emphasize the importance of prevention efforts for bridging populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetyana I Vasylyeva
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.,New College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrea C Pineda-Peña
- Center for Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa.,Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia.,Basic Sciences Department, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Denise Kühnert
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Philippe Lemey
- Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anne-Mieke Vandamme
- Center for Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa.,Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Perpétua Gomes
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, LMCBM, SPC, Hospital de Egas Moniz-Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon.,Center for Interdisciplinary Research Egas Moniz, CiiEM, Almada, Portugal
| | - Ricardo J Camacho
- Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Oliver G Pybus
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ana B Abecasis
- Center for Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa
| | - Nuno R Faria
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
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9
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Genetic clustering analysis for HIV infection among MSM in Nigeria: implications for intervention. AIDS 2020; 34:227-236. [PMID: 31634185 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000002409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The HIV epidemic continues to grow among MSM in countries across sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria. To inform prevention efforts, we used a phylogenetic cluster method to characterize HIV genetic clusters and factors associated with cluster formation among MSM living with HIV in Nigeria. METHODS We analyzed HIV-1 pol sequences from 417 MSM living with HIV enrolled in the TRUST/RV368 cohort between 2013 and 2017 in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria. A genetically linked cluster was defined among participants whose sequences had pairwise genetic distance of 1.5% or less. Binary and multinomial logistic regressions were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors associated with HIV genetic cluster membership and size. RESULTS Among 417 MSM living with HIV, 153 (36.7%) were genetically linked. Participants with higher viral load (AOR = 1.72 95% CI: 1.04-2.86), no female partners (AOR = 3.66; 95% CI: 1.97-6.08), and self-identified as male sex (compared with self-identified as bigender) (AOR = 3.42; 95% CI: 1.08-10.78) had higher odds of being in a genetic cluster. Compared with unlinked participants, MSM who had high school education (AOR = 23.84; 95% CI: 2.66-213.49), were employed (AOR = 3.41; 95% CI: 1.89-10.70), had bacterial sexually transmitted infections (AOR = 3.98; 95% CI: 0.89-17.22) and were not taking antiretroviral therapy (AOR = 6.61; 95% CI: 2.25-19.37) had higher odds of being in a large cluster (size > 4). CONCLUSION Comprehensive HIV prevention packages should include behavioral and biological components, including early diagnosis and treatment of both HIV and bacterial sexually transmitted infections to optimally reduce the risk of HIV transmission and acquisition.
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Coulaud PJ, Sagaon-Teyssier L, Mimi M, M'madi Mrenda B, Maradan G, Mora M, Bourrelly M, Keita BD, Keita AA, Anoma C, Babo Yoro SA, Dah TTE, Coulibaly C, Mensah E, Agbomadji S, Bernier A, Couderc C, Laurent C, Spire B. Combined Sexual Behavioral Profiles in HIV-Seronegative Men Who have Sex with Men in West Africa (CohMSM ANRS 12324-Expertise France). ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2020; 49:331-345. [PMID: 31399923 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-019-01513-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the dynamics of HIV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM) can help improve efficiency in existing prevention strategies. We aimed to identify and describe the sexual behaviors of MSM most at risk of HIV infection in West Africa. HIV-negative MSM were provided a quarterly preventive follow-up package in the community-based cohort CohMSM. They completed face-to-face sociobehavioral questionnaires every 6 months. This sub-study on 520 participants used a baseline, 6-, 12- and 18-month data cluster analysis to categorize two profiles (high risk [HRE] and moderate risk [MRE] of exposure to HIV) based on three risky sexual practices over the previous 6 months. HRE-MSM (61%) were more engaged in receptive practices, had a higher proportion of inconsistent condom use during anal sex, and reported more sexual partners than MRE-MSM (39%). The proportion of HIV seroconversions observed during the first 18 months of follow-up using sexual behavioral profiles (92% are HRE-MSM) was higher than using the three risky sexual practices separately. Factors associated with the HRE-MSM profile were being younger (18-21 years), reporting stigma, and having had no female partner while being attracted only to men. Our findings suggest that in order to identify MSM most at risk of HIV infection, several risky sexual practices need to be evaluated in a combined approach. Prevention programs should pay particular attention to younger MSM, and implement activities addressing questions of MSM identity and stigma in order to reduce the dynamic of HIV infection in Western African MSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Julien Coulaud
- INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Faculté de Médecine Timone, Aix Marseille Univ, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France.
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France.
| | - Luis Sagaon-Teyssier
- INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Faculté de Médecine Timone, Aix Marseille Univ, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France
| | - Mohamed Mimi
- INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Faculté de Médecine Timone, Aix Marseille Univ, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France
| | - Bakridine M'madi Mrenda
- INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Faculté de Médecine Timone, Aix Marseille Univ, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France
| | - Gwenaëlle Maradan
- INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Faculté de Médecine Timone, Aix Marseille Univ, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France
| | - Marion Mora
- INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Faculté de Médecine Timone, Aix Marseille Univ, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France
| | - Michel Bourrelly
- INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Faculté de Médecine Timone, Aix Marseille Univ, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Ter Tiero Elias Dah
- Association African Solidarité, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bruno Spire
- INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Faculté de Médecine Timone, Aix Marseille Univ, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France
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Reconstruction of the Genetic History and the Current Spread of HIV-1 Subtype A in Germany. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.02238-18. [PMID: 30944175 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02238-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 non-B infections have been increasing in Europe for several years. In Germany, subtype A belongs to the most abundant non-B subtypes showing an increasing prevalence of 8.3% among new infections in 2016. Here we trace the origin and examine the current spread of the German HIV-1 subtype A epidemic. Bayesian coalescence and birth-death analyses were performed with 180 German HIV-1 pol sequences and 528 related and publicly available sequences to reconstruct the population dynamics and fluctuations for each of the transmission groups. Our reconstructions indicate two distinct sources of the German subtype A epidemic, with an Eastern European and an Eastern African lineage both cocirculating in the country. A total of 13 German-origin clusters were identified; among these, 6 clusters showed recent activity. Introductions leading to further countrywide spread originated predominantly from Eastern Africa when introduced before 2005. Since 2005, however, spreading introductions have occurred exclusively within the Eastern European clade. Moreover, we observed changes in the main route of subtype A transmission. The beginning of the German epidemic (1985 to 1995) was dominated by heterosexual transmission of the Eastern African lineage. Since 2005, transmissions among German men who have sex with men (MSM) have been increasing and have been associated with the Eastern European lineage. Infections among people who inject drugs dominated between 1998 and 2005. Our findings on HIV-1 subtype A infections provide new insights into the spread of this virus and extend the understanding of the HIV epidemic in Germany.IMPORTANCE HIV-1 subtype A is the second most prevalent subtype worldwide, with a high prevalence in Eastern Africa and Eastern Europe. However, an increase of non-B infections, including subtype A infections, has been observed in Germany and other European countries. There has simultaneously been an increased flow of refugees into Europe and especially into Germany, raising the question of whether the surge in non-B infections resulted from this increased immigration or whether German transmission chains are mainly involved. This study is the first comprehensive subtype A study from a western European country analyzing in detail its phylogenetic origin, the impact of various transmission routes, and its current spread. The results and conclusions presented provide new and substantial insights for virologists, epidemiologists, and the general public health sector. In this regard, they should be useful to those authorities responsible for developing public health intervention strategies to combat the further spread of HIV/AIDS.
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12
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarizes the use of genetic similarity clusters to understand HIV transmission and inform prevention efforts. RECENT FINDINGS Recent emphases include the development of real-time cluster identification in order to interrupt transmission chains, the use of clusters to estimate rates of transmission along the HIV care cascade, and the extension of cluster analyses to understand transmission in the generalized epidemics of sub-Saharan Africa. Importantly, this recent empirical work has been accompanied by theoretical work that elucidates the processes that underlie HIV genetic similarity clusters; multiple studies suggest that clusters are not necessarily enriched with individuals with high transmission rates, but rather can reflect variation in sampling times within a population, with individuals sampled early in infection more likely to cluster. Analyses of genetic similarity clusters have great promise to inform HIV epidemiology and prevention. Future emphases should include the collection of additional sequence data from underrepresented populations, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa, and further development and evaluation of clustering methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Kate Grabowski
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Rakai Health Sciences Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joshua T Herbeck
- International Clinical Research Center, Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Art F Y Poon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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13
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Hassan AS, Esbjörnsson J, Wahome E, Thiong’o A, Makau GN, Price MA, Sanders EJ. HIV-1 subtype diversity, transmission networks and transmitted drug resistance amongst acute and early infected MSM populations from Coastal Kenya. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206177. [PMID: 30562356 PMCID: PMC6298690 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background HIV-1 molecular epidemiology amongst men who have sex with men (MSM) in sub-Saharan Africa remains not well characterized. We aimed to determine HIV-1 subtype distribution, transmission clusters and transmitted drug resistance (TDR) in acute and early infected MSM from Coastal Kenya. Methods Analysis of HIV-1 partial pol sequences from MSM recruited 2005–2017 and sampled within six months of the estimated date of infection. Volunteers were classified as men who have sex with men exclusively (MSME) or with both men and women (MSMW). HIV-1 subtype and transmission clusters were determined by maximum-likelihood phylogenetics. TDR mutations were determined using the Stanford HIV drug resistance database. Results Of the 97 volunteers, majority (69%) were MSMW; 74%, 16%, 9% and 1% had HIV-1 subtypes A1, D, C or G, respectively. Overall, 65% formed transmission clusters, with substantial mixing between MSME and MSMW. Majority of volunteer sequences were either not linked to any reference sequence (56%) or clustered exclusively with sequences of Kenyan origin (19%). Eight (8% [95% CI: 4–16]) had at least one TDR mutation against nucleoside (n = 2 [2%]) and/or non-nucleoside (n = 7 [7%]) reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The most prevalent TDR mutation was K103N (n = 5), with sequences forming transmission clusters of two and three taxa each. There were no significant differences in HIV-1 subtype distribution and TDR between MSME and MSMW. Conclusions This HIV-1 MSM epidemic was predominantly sub-subtype A1, of Kenyan origin, with many transmission clusters and having intermediate level of TDR. Targeted HIV-1 prevention, early identification and care interventions are warranted to break the transmission cycle amongst MSM from Coastal Kenya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin S. Hassan
- KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | | | - George N. Makau
- KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mathew A. Price
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Eduard J. Sanders
- KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Brenner BG, Ibanescu RI, Hardy I, Roger M. Genotypic and Phylogenetic Insights on Prevention of the Spread of HIV-1 and Drug Resistance in "Real-World" Settings. Viruses 2017; 10:v10010010. [PMID: 29283390 PMCID: PMC5795423 DOI: 10.3390/v10010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV continues to spread among vulnerable heterosexual (HET), Men-having-Sex with Men (MSM) and intravenous drug user (IDU) populations, influenced by a complex array of biological, behavioral and societal factors. Phylogenetics analyses of large sequence datasets from national drug resistance testing programs reveal the evolutionary interrelationships of viral strains implicated in the dynamic spread of HIV in different regional settings. Viral phylogenetics can be combined with demographic and behavioral information to gain insights on epidemiological processes shaping transmission networks at the population-level. Drug resistance testing programs also reveal emergent mutational pathways leading to resistance to the 23 antiretroviral drugs used in HIV-1 management in low-, middle- and high-income settings. This article describes how genotypic and phylogenetic information from Quebec and elsewhere provide critical information on HIV transmission and resistance, Cumulative findings can be used to optimize public health strategies to tackle the challenges of HIV in “real-world” settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bluma G Brenner
- McGill University AIDS Centre, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada.
| | - Ruxandra-Ilinca Ibanescu
- McGill University AIDS Centre, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada.
| | - Isabelle Hardy
- Département de Microbiologie et d'Immunologie et Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montreal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada.
| | - Michel Roger
- Département de Microbiologie et d'Immunologie et Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montreal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada.
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Kiwuwa-Muyingo S, Nazziwa J, Ssemwanga D, Ilmonen P, Njai H, Ndembi N, Parry C, Kitandwe PK, Gershim A, Mpendo J, Neilsen L, Seeley J, Seppälä H, Lyagoba F, Kamali A, Kaleebu P. HIV-1 transmission networks in high risk fishing communities on the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda: A phylogenetic and epidemiological approach. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185818. [PMID: 29023474 PMCID: PMC5638258 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fishing communities around Lake Victoria in sub-Saharan Africa have been characterised as a population at high risk of HIV-infection. METHODS Using data from a cohort of HIV-positive individuals aged 13-49 years, enrolled from 5 fishing communities on Lake Victoria between 2009-2011, we sought to identify factors contributing to the epidemic and to understand the underlying structure of HIV transmission networks. Clinical and socio-demographic data were combined with HIV-1 phylogenetic analyses. HIV-1 gag-p24 and env-gp-41 sub-genomic fragments were amplified and sequenced from 283 HIV-1-infected participants. Phylogenetic clusters with ≥2 highly related sequences were defined as transmission clusters. Logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with clustering. RESULTS Altogether, 24% (n = 67/283) of HIV positive individuals with sequences fell within 34 phylogenetically distinct clusters in at least one gene region (either gag or env). Of these, 83% occurred either within households or within community; 8/34 (24%) occurred within household partnerships, and 20/34 (59%) within community. 7/12 couples (58%) within households clustered together. Individuals in clusters with potential recent transmission (11/34) were more likely to be younger 71% (15/21) versus 46% (21/46) in un-clustered individuals and had recently become resident in the community 67% (14/21) vs 48% (22/46). Four of 11 (36%) potential transmission clusters included incident-incident transmissions. Independently, clustering was less likely in HIV subtype D (adjusted Odds Ratio, aOR = 0.51 [95% CI 0.26-1.00]) than A and more likely in those living with an HIV-infected individual in the household (aOR = 6.30 [95% CI 3.40-11.68]). CONCLUSIONS A large proportion of HIV sexual transmissions occur within house-holds and within communities even in this key mobile population. The findings suggest localized HIV transmissions and hence a potential benefit for the test and treat approach even at a community level, coupled with intensified HIV counselling to identify early infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Kiwuwa-Muyingo
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Jamirah Nazziwa
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Deogratius Ssemwanga
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Pauliina Ilmonen
- Aalto University, School of Science, Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis, Espoo, Finland
| | - Harr Njai
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Nicaise Ndembi
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Chris Parry
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | - Asiki Gershim
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | - Leslie Neilsen
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New York, United States of America
| | - Janet Seeley
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Heikki Seppälä
- Aalto University, School of Science, Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis, Espoo, Finland
| | - Fred Lyagoba
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Anatoli Kamali
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pontiano Kaleebu
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Understanding HIV-1 transmission dynamics is relevant to both screening and intervention strategies of HIV-1 infection. Commonly, HIV-1 transmission chains are determined based on sequence similarity assessed either directly from a sequence alignment or by inferring a phylogenetic tree. This review is aimed at both nonexperts interested in understanding and interpreting studies of HIV-1 transmission, and experts interested in finding the most appropriate cluster definition for a specific dataset and research question. We start by introducing the concepts and methodologies of how HIV-1 transmission clusters usually have been defined. We then present the results of a systematic review of 105 HIV-1 molecular epidemiology studies summarizing the most common methods and definitions in the literature. Finally, we offer our perspectives on how HIV-1 transmission clusters can be defined and provide some guidance based on examples from real life datasets.
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Abstract
Effective HIV prevention requires knowledge of the structure and dynamics of the social networks across which infections are transmitted. These networks most commonly comprise chains of sexual relationships, but in some populations, sharing of contaminated needles is also an important, or even the main mechanism that connects people in the network. Whereas network data have long been collected during survey interviews, new data sources have become increasingly common in recent years, because of advances in molecular biology and the use of partner notification services in HIV prevention and treatment programmes. We review current and emerging methods for collecting HIV-related network data, as well as modelling frameworks commonly used to infer network parameters and map potential HIV transmission pathways within the network. We discuss the relative strengths and weaknesses of existing methods and models, and we propose a research agenda for advancing network analysis in HIV epidemiology. We make the case for a combination approach that integrates multiple data sources into a coherent statistical framework.
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Junqueira DM, de Medeiros RM, Gräf T, Almeida SEDM. Short-Term Dynamic and Local Epidemiological Trends in the South American HIV-1B Epidemic. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156712. [PMID: 27258369 PMCID: PMC4892525 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The human displacement and sexual behavior are the main factors driving the HIV-1 pandemic to the current profile. The intrinsic structure of the HIV transmission among different individuals has valuable importance for the understanding of the epidemic and for the public health response. The aim of this study was to characterize the HIV-1 subtype B (HIV-1B) epidemic in South America through the identification of transmission links and infer trends about geographical patterns and median time of transmission between individuals. Sequences of the protease and reverse transcriptase coding regions from 4,810 individuals were selected from GenBank. Maximum likelihood phylogenies were inferred and submitted to ClusterPicker to identify transmission links. Bayesian analyses were applied only for clusters including ≥5 dated samples in order to estimate the median maximum inter-transmission interval. This study analyzed sequences sampled from 12 South American countries, from individuals of different exposure categories, under different antiretroviral profiles, and from a wide period of time (1989–2013). Continentally, Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela were revealed important sites for the spread of HIV-1B among countries inside South America. Of note, from all the clusters identified about 70% of the HIV-1B infections are primarily occurring among individuals living in the same geographic region. In addition, these transmissions seem to occur early after the infection of an individual, taking in average 2.39 years (95% CI 1.48–3.30) to succeed. Homosexual/Bisexual individuals transmit the virus as quickly as almost half time of that estimated for the general population sampled here. Public health services can be broadly benefitted from this kind of information whether to focus on specific programs of response to the epidemic whether as guiding of prevention campaigns to specific risk groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Maletich Junqueira
- Centro Universitário Ritter dos Reis—Uniritter, Departamento de Ciências da Saúde, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CDCT), Fundação Estadual de Produção e Pesquisa em Saúde (FEPPS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- * E-mail: ;
| | - Rubia Marília de Medeiros
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CDCT), Fundação Estadual de Produção e Pesquisa em Saúde (FEPPS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Tiago Gräf
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CDCT), Fundação Estadual de Produção e Pesquisa em Saúde (FEPPS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia e Biociências, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Esteves de Matos Almeida
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CDCT), Fundação Estadual de Produção e Pesquisa em Saúde (FEPPS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade FEEVALE, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil
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Genetic diversity and transmission networks of HIV-1 strains among men having sex with men (MSM) in Lomé, Togo. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2016; 46:279-285. [PMID: 27235597 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the HIV epidemic in key populations is important. Today only scarce information is available on HIV-1 strains that circulate in men having sex with men (MSM) in sub-Saharan Africa. Here, we studied for the first time the genetic diversity of HIV-1 strains circulating in the MSM population in Lomé, the capital city from Togo. The overall subtype/CRF distribution in pol (protease and/or partial reverse transcriptase (RT)) among the 79 HIV-1 strains from MSM was as follows: CRF02_AG (72%, n=57), subtype G (2.5%, n=2), sub-subtype A3 (1.3%, n=1), and unique recombinant forms (URF) (24%, n=19). Among the 19 URFs four different mosaic structures were observed, annotated as URF1 to URF4. Fifteen sequences (URF1) had the same mosaic structure in pol (G/CRF02_AG) and could represent a new circulating recombinant form (CRF). Phylogenetic analysis of the RT sequences showed that there were several introductions of CRF02_AG strains in the MSM population, however half of the CRF02_AG and all URF1 strains formed a separate, well-supported cluster suggesting one major introduction of CRF02_AG in the MSM population followed by efficient transmission and emergence of a possible new CRF. At least 40% of the strains fell into recent transmission chains involving two to seven MSM. Comparison with >950 HIV-1 sequences from previous studies in Togo showed intermixing of the HIV-1 epidemics between MSM and the general population. Moreover, an HIV-1 strain from a recently HIV-1 infected male patient from Germany, fell within a cluster of HIV-1 strains from MSM from Togo, illustrating recent exchange between MSM from Africa and people from other geographic regions. With growing evidence of the importance of MSM in the dynamic of the HIV epidemic in Africa there is an urgent need for appropriate interventions to limit HIV transmission in this population group.
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Dampier W, Nonnemacher MR, Mell J, Earl J, Ehrlich GD, Pirrone V, Aiamkitsumrit B, Zhong W, Kercher K, Passic S, Williams JW, Jacobson JM, Wigdahl B. HIV-1 Genetic Variation Resulting in the Development of New Quasispecies Continues to Be Encountered in the Peripheral Blood of Well-Suppressed Patients. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0155382. [PMID: 27195985 PMCID: PMC4873138 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
As a result of antiretroviral therapeutic strategies, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection has become a long-term clinically manageable chronic disease for many infected individuals. However, despite this progress in therapeutic control, including undetectable viral loads and CD4+ T-cell counts in the normal range, viral mutations continue to accumulate in the peripheral blood compartment over time, indicating either low level reactivation and/or replication. Using patients from the Drexel Medicine CNS AIDS Research and Eradication Study (CARES) Cohort, whom have been sampled longitudinally for more than 7 years, genetic change was modeled against to the dominant integrated proviral quasispecies with respect to selection pressures such as therapeutic interventions, AIDS defining illnesses, and other factors. Phylogenetic methods based on the sequences of the LTR and tat exon 1 of the HIV-1 proviral DNA quasispecies were used to obtain an estimate of an average mutation rate of 5.3 nucleotides (nt)/kilobasepair (kb)/year (yr) prior to initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Following ART the baseline mutation rate was reduced to an average of 1.02 nt/kb/yr. The post-ART baseline rate of genetic change, however, appears to be unique for each patient. These studies represent our initial steps in quantifying rates of genetic change among HIV-1 quasispecies using longitudinally sampled sequences from patients at different stages of disease both before and after initiation of combination ART. Notably, while long-term ART reduced the estimated mutation rates in the vast majority of patients studied, there was still measurable HIV-1 mutation even in patients with no detectable virus by standard quantitative assays. Determining the factors that affect HIV-1 mutation rates in the peripheral blood may lead to elucidation of the mechanisms associated with changes in HIV-1 disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Will Dampier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Michael R. Nonnemacher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Joshua Mell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Joshua Earl
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Garth D. Ehrlich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Advanced Microbial Processing, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Vanessa Pirrone
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Benjamas Aiamkitsumrit
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Wen Zhong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Katherine Kercher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Shendra Passic
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jean W. Williams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey M. Jacobson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Clinical and Translational Medicine, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Brian Wigdahl
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
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Jobson G, Struthers H, McIntyre J. "In the fell clutch of circumstance": HIV and men who have sex with men in sub-Saharan Africa. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2016; 12:164-72. [PMID: 25637162 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-014-0249-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Men who have sex with men (MSM) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have been repeatedly found to have high risk of HIV infection, and in spite of the differing nature of the HIV epidemic in the general population between East and Southern Africa, and West and Central Africa, MSM are disproportionately affected by HIV across the entire region. Recent research has examined the drivers of HIV risk, and the dynamics of the MSM HIV epidemic in greater detail. However, this growing knowledge has generally not been translated into effective HIV prevention interventions. In part, this is due to the highly stigmatised and frequently criminalised nature of same-sex sexualities in much of the region. Without human-rights-based advocacy targeting governments and interventions aiming to decrease stigma and homophobia, translating research into effective HIV interventions for MSM in SSA at the scale needed to reduce HIV transmission in this population remains highly unlikely.
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Zaidi SS, Ocholla AM, Otieno RA, Sandfort TGM. Women Who Have Sex with Women in Kenya and Their Sexual and Reproductive Health. LGBT Health 2015; 3:139-45. [PMID: 26684690 DOI: 10.1089/lgbt.2014.0121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe sexual and reproductive health characteristics of women who have sex with women (WSW) in Kenya's three most populous cities: Kisumu, Mombasa, and Nairobi. Although the last decade has shown an upsurge of health-related research studies in African sexual minority populations, these studies have generally concentrated on the health status of men who have sex with men to the exclusion of WSW. This study presents the first findings on Kenyan WSW's sexual and reproductive health. METHODS A community-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 280 women who were at least 18 years old, had at least one female sexual partner in the past three years, and were Kenyan residents. RESULTS A significant proportion of participants reported that they had at least one male sexual partner in the past three years (38.9%), ever had an abortion (13.2%), been infected with at least one sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the past three years (33.9%), and been tested for HIV at least once (88.9%). Of the women who reported having been tested for HIV, 9.4% (7.5% of the total sample) received a positive test result. Some women noted that they were open with their doctors about their sexual orientation, and that their doctors had not reacted negatively to this information. CONCLUSION WSW in Kenya are at risk for negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes, including HIV, STIs, unplanned pregnancy, and unsafe abortion, positioning these women as a critical population for public health efforts. Some WSW actively exercise their agency in making important health decisions. Therefore, this study indicates a need to incorporate WSW's health concerns within Kenyan national health policy programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidra S Zaidi
- 1 Division of Gender, Sexuality and Health, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University , New York, New York.,2 New York State Psychiatric Institute , New York, New York
| | | | | | - Theo G M Sandfort
- 1 Division of Gender, Sexuality and Health, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University , New York, New York.,2 New York State Psychiatric Institute , New York, New York
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Novitsky V, Kühnert D, Moyo S, Widenfelt E, Okui L, Essex M. Phylodynamic analysis of HIV sub-epidemics in Mochudi, Botswana. Epidemics 2015; 13:44-55. [PMID: 26616041 PMCID: PMC4664890 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2015.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2014] [Revised: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Southern Africa continues to be the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This HIV-1 subtype C epidemic has a predominantly heterosexual mode of virus transmission and high (>15%) HIV prevalence among adults. The epidemiological dynamics of the HIV-1C epidemic in southern Africa are still poorly understood. Here, we aim at a better understanding of HIV transmission dynamics by analyzing HIV-1 subtype C sequences from Mochudi, a peri-urban village in Botswana. HIV-1C env gene sequences (gp120 V1C5) were obtained through enhanced household-based HIV testing and counseling in Mochudi. More than 1200 sequences were generated and phylogenetically distinct sub-epidemics within Mochudi identified. The Bayesian birth-death skyline plot was used to estimate the effective reproductive number, R, and the timing of virus transmission, to classify sub-epidemics as "acute" (those with recent viral transmissions) or "historic" (those without recent viral transmissions). We identified two of the 15 sub-epidemics as "acute." The median estimates of R among the clusters ranged from 0.72 to 1.77. The majority of HIV lineages, 11 out of 15 clusters with 5+ members, appear to have been introduced to Mochudi between 1996 and 2002. The median peak duration of viral transmissions was 7.1 years (range 2.9-9.7 years). The median life span of identified HIV sub-epidemics, i.e., the time between the inferred epidemic origin and its most recent sample, was 13.1 years (range 10.2-22.1 years). Most viral transmissions within the sub-epidemics occurred between 1997 and 2007. The time period during which infected people are infectious appears to have decreased since the introduction of the national ART program in Botswana. Real-time HIV genotyping and breaking down local HIV epidemics into phylogenetically distinct sub-epidemics may help to reveal the structure and dynamics of HIV transmission networks in communities, and aid in the design of targeted interventions for members of the acute sub-epidemics that likely fuel local HIV/AIDS epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Denise Kühnert
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sikhulile Moyo
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Erik Widenfelt
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Lillian Okui
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - M Essex
- Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.
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25
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Smith AD, Muhaari AD, Agwanda C, Kowuor D, van der Elst E, Davies A, Graham SM, Jaffe HW, Sanders EJ. Heterosexual behaviours among men who sell sex to men in coastal Kenya. AIDS 2015; 29 Suppl 3:S201-10. [PMID: 26565965 PMCID: PMC4706370 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000000889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE African men who have sex with men often sell sex to men, and MSM who sell sex (MSM-SW) often also have female partners. We compared sexual risk behaviour of MSM-SW who were sexually active with female partners (bisexual MSW) to MSM-SW with only male partners (exclusive MSW). DESIGN Descriptive behavioural study METHODS : A novel, validated daily event and partner diary self-completed by 82 MSM who sold sex over a follow-up period of 42 days with weekly review. Cumulative individual counts of sex and condomless sex were compiled by partner characteristics. The incidence of specific partnerships and sex acts were compared within and between bisexual and exclusive MSW. RESULTS Most (59%) MSM-SW reported female partners during follow-up. The majority of both male and female partners were cash-paying clients originating locally. Bisexual MSW reported a similar rate of condomless sex with male and female partners, but significantly fewer male partners than exclusive MSW. Bisexual MSW had lower HIV prevalence, were more likely to only report insertive anal sex roles, and reported lower frequencies of condomless receptive anal sex than exclusive MSW. CONCLUSION Bisexually active male sex workers in coastal Kenya create HIV and other sexually transmitted infection transmission pathways to partners and clients in both MSM and heterosexual networks, but differed from exclusive MSW in having lower HIV acquisition and transmission risks. Epidemiological projection methods are liable to overestimate bridging potential of MSM-SW and MSM populations without account for systematic differences in risk within these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian D. Smith
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of
Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Allan D. Muhaari
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research
Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Carole Agwanda
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research
Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Dickens Kowuor
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research
Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Elise van der Elst
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research
Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Alun Davies
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research
Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Susan M. Graham
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research
Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Medicine, Global Health and Epidemiology,
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Harold W. Jaffe
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of
Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Eduard J. Sanders
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research
Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Topical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield
Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Global Health, Academic Medical Centre,
University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Liu SH, Erion G, Novitsky V, De Gruttola V. Viral Genetic Linkage Analysis in the Presence of Missing Data. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135469. [PMID: 26301919 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Analyses of viral genetic linkage can provide insight into HIV transmission dynamics and the impact of prevention interventions. For example, such analyses have the potential to determine whether recently-infected individuals have acquired viruses circulating within or outside a given community. In addition, they have the potential to identify characteristics of chronically infected individuals that make their viruses likely to cluster with others circulating within a community. Such clustering can be related to the potential of such individuals to contribute to the spread of the virus, either directly through transmission to their partners or indirectly through further spread of HIV from those partners. Assessment of the extent to which individual (incident or prevalent) viruses are clustered within a community will be biased if only a subset of subjects are observed, especially if that subset is not representative of the entire HIV infected population. To address this concern, we develop a multiple imputation framework in which missing sequences are imputed based on a model for the diversification of viral genomes. The imputation method decreases the bias in clustering that arises from informative missingness. Data from a household survey conducted in a village in Botswana are used to illustrate these methods. We demonstrate that the multiple imputation approach reduces bias in the overall proportion of clustering due to the presence of missing observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley H Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Gabriel Erion
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Vladimir Novitsky
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Victor De Gruttola
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Long-Range HIV Genotyping Using Viral RNA and Proviral DNA for Analysis of HIV Drug Resistance and HIV Clustering. J Clin Microbiol 2015; 53:2581-92. [PMID: 26041893 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00756-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of the study was to improve the methodology of HIV genotyping for analysis of HIV drug resistance and HIV clustering. Using the protocol of Gall et al. (A. Gall, B. Ferns, C. Morris, S. Watson, M. Cotten, M. Robinson, N. Berry, D. Pillay, and P. Kellam, J Clin Microbiol 50:3838-3844, 2012, doi:10.1128/JCM.01516-12), we developed a robust methodology for amplification of two large fragments of viral genome covering about 80% of the unique HIV-1 genome sequence. Importantly, this method can be applied to both viral RNA and proviral DNA amplification templates, allowing genotyping in HIV-infected subjects with suppressed viral loads (e.g., subjects on antiretroviral therapy [ART]). The two amplicons cover critical regions across the HIV-1 genome (including pol and env), allowing analysis of mutations associated with resistance to protease inhibitors, reverse transcriptase inhibitors (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NRTIs] and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NNRTIs]), integrase strand transfer inhibitors, and virus entry inhibitors. The two amplicons generated span 7,124 bp, providing substantial sequence length and numbers of informative sites for comprehensive phylogenic analysis and greater refinement of viral linkage analyses in HIV prevention studies. The long-range HIV genotyping from proviral DNA was successful in about 90% of 212 targeted blood specimens collected in a cohort where the majority of patients had suppressed viral loads, including 65% of patients with undetectable levels of HIV-1 RNA loads. The generated amplicons could be sequenced by different methods, such as population Sanger sequencing, single-genome sequencing, or next-generation ultradeep sequencing. The developed method is cost-effective-the cost of the long-range HIV genotyping is under $140 per subject (by Sanger sequencing)-and has the potential to enable the scale up of public health HIV prevention interventions.
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Novitsky V, Moyo S, Lei Q, DeGruttola V, Essex M. Importance of Viral Sequence Length and Number of Variable and Informative Sites in Analysis of HIV Clustering. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2015; 31:531-42. [PMID: 25560745 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2014.0211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
To improve the methodology of HIV cluster analysis, we addressed how analysis of HIV clustering is associated with parameters that can affect the outcome of viral clustering. The extent of HIV clustering and tree certainty was compared between 401 HIV-1C near full-length genome sequences and subgenomic regions retrieved from the LANL HIV Database. Sliding window analysis was based on 99 windows of 1,000 bp and 45 windows of 2,000 bp. Potential associations between the extent of HIV clustering and sequence length and the number of variable and informative sites were evaluated. The near full-length genome HIV sequences showed the highest extent of HIV clustering and the highest tree certainty. At the bootstrap threshold of 0.80 in maximum likelihood (ML) analysis, 58.9% of near full-length HIV-1C sequences but only 15.5% of partial pol sequences (ViroSeq) were found in clusters. Among HIV-1 structural genes, pol showed the highest extent of clustering (38.9% at a bootstrap threshold of 0.80), although it was significantly lower than in the near full-length genome sequences. The extent of HIV clustering was significantly higher for sliding windows of 2,000 bp than 1,000 bp. We found a strong association between the sequence length and proportion of HIV sequences in clusters, and a moderate association between the number of variable and informative sites and the proportion of HIV sequences in clusters. In HIV cluster analysis, the extent of detectable HIV clustering is directly associated with the length of viral sequences used, as well as the number of variable and informative sites. Near full-length genome sequences could provide the most informative HIV cluster analysis. Selected subgenomic regions with a high extent of HIV clustering and high tree certainty could also be considered as a second choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Novitsky
- Harvard School of Public Health AIDS Initiative, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Quanhong Lei
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Victor DeGruttola
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - M. Essex
- Harvard School of Public Health AIDS Initiative, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute, Gaborone, Botswana
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Dijkstra M, van der Elst EM, Micheni M, Gichuru E, Musyoki H, Duby Z, Lange JMA, Graham SM, Sanders EJ. Emerging themes for sensitivity training modules of African healthcare workers attending to men who have sex with men: a systematic review. Int Health 2015; 7:151-62. [PMID: 25596188 PMCID: PMC4427535 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihu101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Revised: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensitivity training of front-line African health care workers (HCWs) attending to men who have sex with men (MSM) is actively promoted through national HIV prevention programming in Kenya. Over 970 Kenyan-based HCWs have completed an eight-modular online training free of charge (http://www.marps-africa.org) since its creation in 2011. Before updating these modules, we performed a systematic review of published literature of MSM studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) in the period 2011-2014, to investigate if recent studies provided: important new knowledge currently not addressed in existing online modules; contested information of existing module topics; or added depth to topics covered already. We used learning objectives of the eight existing modules to categorise data from the literature. If data could not be categorised, new modules were suggested. Our review identified 142 MSM studies with data from sSA, including 34 studies requiring module updates, one study contesting current content, and 107 studies reinforcing existing module content. ART adherence and community engagement were identified as new modules. Recent MSM studies conducted in sSA provided new knowledge, contested existing information, and identified new areas of MSM service needs currently unaddressed in the online training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maartje Dijkstra
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Elise M van der Elst
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Murugi Micheni
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Evanson Gichuru
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Helgar Musyoki
- National AIDS and STI Control Programme, P.O. Box 19361-00202, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Zoe Duby
- Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, Anzio Road, Observatory 7705, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Joep M A Lange
- Amsterdam Institute for Global Health Development, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22700 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Department of Global Health, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22700 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Susan M Graham
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Eduard J Sanders
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya Department of Global Health, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22700 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
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HIV and STI prevalence and risk factors among male sex workers and other men who have sex with men in Nairobi, Kenya. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2015; 68:91-6. [PMID: 25501346 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000000368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
: Previous surveys of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Africa have not adequately profiled HIV status and risk factors by sex work status. MSM in Nairobi, Kenya, were recruited using respondent-driven sampling, completed a behavioral interview, and were tested for HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Overlapping recruitment among 273 male sex workers and 290 other MSM was common. Sex workers were more likely to report receptive anal sex with multiple partners (65.7% versus 18.0%, P < 0.001) and unprotected receptive anal intercourse (40.0% versus 22.8%, P = 0.005). Male sex workers were also more likely to be HIV infected (26.3% versus 12.2%, P = 0.007).
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Novitsky V, Moyo S, Lei Q, DeGruttola V, Essex M. Impact of sampling density on the extent of HIV clustering. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2014; 30:1226-35. [PMID: 25275430 PMCID: PMC4250956 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2014.0173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying and monitoring HIV clusters could be useful in tracking the leading edge of HIV transmission in epidemics. Currently, greater specificity in the definition of HIV clusters is needed to reduce confusion in the interpretation of HIV clustering results. We address sampling density as one of the key aspects of HIV cluster analysis. The proportion of viral sequences in clusters was estimated at sampling densities from 1.0% to 70%. A set of 1,248 HIV-1C env gp120 V1C5 sequences from a single community in Botswana was utilized in simulation studies. Matching numbers of HIV-1C V1C5 sequences from the LANL HIV Database were used as comparators. HIV clusters were identified by phylogenetic inference under bootstrapped maximum likelihood and pairwise distance cut-offs. Sampling density below 10% was associated with stochastic HIV clustering with broad confidence intervals. HIV clustering increased linearly at sampling density >10%, and was accompanied by narrowing confidence intervals. Patterns of HIV clustering were similar at bootstrap thresholds 0.7 to 1.0, but the extent of HIV clustering decreased with higher bootstrap thresholds. The origin of sampling (local concentrated vs. scattered global) had a substantial impact on HIV clustering at sampling densities ≥10%. Pairwise distances at 10% were estimated as a threshold for cluster analysis of HIV-1 V1C5 sequences. The node bootstrap support distribution provided additional evidence for 10% sampling density as the threshold for HIV cluster analysis. The detectability of HIV clusters is substantially affected by sampling density. A minimal genotyping density of 10% and sampling density of 50-70% are suggested for HIV-1 V1C5 cluster analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Novitsky
- Harvard School of Public Health AIDS Initiative, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Quanhong Lei
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Victor DeGruttola
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Myron Essex
- Harvard School of Public Health AIDS Initiative, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute, Gaborone, Botswana
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Phylogenetics is frequently used for studies of population-based HIV transmission. The purpose of this review is to highlight the current utilities and limitations of phylogenetics in HIV epidemiological research from sample collection through to data analysis. RECENT FINDINGS Studies of HIV phylogenies can provide critical information about HIV epidemics that are otherwise difficult to obtain through traditional study design such as transmission of drug-resistant virus, mixing between demographic groups, and rapidity of viral spread within populations. However, recent results from empirical and theoretical studies of HIV phylogenies challenge some of the key assumptions and interpretations from phylogenetic studies. Recent findings include lack of transmission bottlenecks in MSM and injection drug use epidemics, evidence for preferential transmission of HIV virus in heterosexual epidemics, and limited evidence that tree topologies correlate directly with underlying network structures. Other challenges include a lack of a standardized definition for a phylogenetic transmission cluster and biased or sparse sampling of HIV transmission networks. SUMMARY Phylogenetics is an important tool for HIV research, and offers opportunities to understand critical aspects of the HIV epidemic. Like all epidemiological research, the methods used and interpretation of results from phylogenetic studies should be made cautiously with careful consideration.
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Tanser F, de Oliveira T, Maheu-Giroux M, Bärnighausen T. Concentrated HIV subepidemics in generalized epidemic settings. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2014; 9:115-25. [PMID: 24356328 PMCID: PMC4228373 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW A relatively neglected topic to date has been the occurrence of concentrated epidemics within generalized epidemic settings and the potential role of targeted interventions in such settings. We review recent studies in high-risk groups as well as findings relating to geographical heterogeneity and the potential for targeting 'high-transmission zones' in the 10 countries with highest HIV prevalence. RECENT FINDINGS Our review of recent studies confirmed earlier findings that, even in the context of generalized epidemics, MSM have a substantially higher prevalence than the general population. Estimates of prevalence of HIV among people who inject drugs (PWID) in sub-Saharan African countries are rarely available and, when they are, often outdated. We identified recent studies of sex workers in Kenya and Uganda. In all three cases - MSM, PWID, and sex workers - HIV prevalence estimates are mostly based on convenience. Moreover, good estimates of the total size of these populations are not available. Our review of recent studies of high-risk populations defined on the basis of geography showed high levels of both new and existing infections in Kenya (slums), South Africa (peri-urban communities), and Uganda (fishing villages). SUMMARY Recent empirical findings combined with evidence from phylogenetic studies and supported by mathematical models provide a clear rationale for testing the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of targeted HIV prevention approaches in hyperendemic populations to supplement measures aimed at the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Tanser
- Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, SA
| | - Tulio de Oliveira
- Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, SA
| | - Mathieu Maheu-Giroux
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, USA
| | - Till Bärnighausen
- Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, SA
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, USA
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