TY - JOUR
T1 - HIV-1 subtypes and differences in heterosexual HIV transmission among HIV-discordant couples in Rakai, Uganda
AU - Kiwanuka, Noah
AU - Laeyendecker, Oliver
AU - Quinn, Thomas C.
AU - Wawer, Maria J.
AU - Shepherd, James
AU - Robb, Merlin
AU - Kigozi, Godfrey
AU - Kagaayi, Joseph
AU - Serwadda, David
AU - Makumbi, Fred E.
AU - Reynolds, Steven J.
AU - Gray, Ronald H.
PY - 2009/11
Y1 - 2009/11
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether heterosexual transmission of HIV differs according to HIV-1 subtype. DESIGN: A retrospective observational cohort. METHODS: HIV-1 subtype effects on heterosexual HIV-1 transmission were determined among 268 HIV-discordant couples retrospectively identified from a population cohort in Rakai, Uganda. HIV-1 subtype (gag and gp41 sequencing and multiregion hybridization assay) and viral loads (reverse transcriptase PCR) were determined. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (adj IRR) of HIV transmission by subtype were estimated by multivariable Poisson regression adjusting for characteristics of index HIV-positive and HIV-negative partners. RESULTS: Adjusting for index HIV-positive partners' age, viral load, stage of disease, genital ulcer disease, and HIV-negative partners' genital ulcer disease and nonuse of condoms, subtype A viruses were associated with a higher rate of transmission than subtype D [adj.IRR 1.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17-3.34], but no differences in transmission were observed between recombinant viruses and subtype D (aIRR 1.53, P = 0.25). Index-positive partners' age less than 30 years (adj.IRR 3.44, 95% CI 1.75-6.78) and viral load (adj.IRR 2.37, 95% CI 1.75-3.21), and index-negative partners' genital ulcer disease (adj.IRR 1.71, 95% CI 1.08-2.70) and nonuse of condoms (adj.IRR 1.94, 95% CI 1.15-3.28) were significant determinants of HIV transmission. CONCLUSION: In Rakai, Uganda, subtype A viruses have a significantly higher rate of heterosexual transmission than subtype D viruses. Differential subtype transmission efficiency may be important for HIV vaccine evaluation and could contribute to subtype-specific HIV epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa.
AB - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether heterosexual transmission of HIV differs according to HIV-1 subtype. DESIGN: A retrospective observational cohort. METHODS: HIV-1 subtype effects on heterosexual HIV-1 transmission were determined among 268 HIV-discordant couples retrospectively identified from a population cohort in Rakai, Uganda. HIV-1 subtype (gag and gp41 sequencing and multiregion hybridization assay) and viral loads (reverse transcriptase PCR) were determined. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (adj IRR) of HIV transmission by subtype were estimated by multivariable Poisson regression adjusting for characteristics of index HIV-positive and HIV-negative partners. RESULTS: Adjusting for index HIV-positive partners' age, viral load, stage of disease, genital ulcer disease, and HIV-negative partners' genital ulcer disease and nonuse of condoms, subtype A viruses were associated with a higher rate of transmission than subtype D [adj.IRR 1.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17-3.34], but no differences in transmission were observed between recombinant viruses and subtype D (aIRR 1.53, P = 0.25). Index-positive partners' age less than 30 years (adj.IRR 3.44, 95% CI 1.75-6.78) and viral load (adj.IRR 2.37, 95% CI 1.75-3.21), and index-negative partners' genital ulcer disease (adj.IRR 1.71, 95% CI 1.08-2.70) and nonuse of condoms (adj.IRR 1.94, 95% CI 1.15-3.28) were significant determinants of HIV transmission. CONCLUSION: In Rakai, Uganda, subtype A viruses have a significantly higher rate of heterosexual transmission than subtype D viruses. Differential subtype transmission efficiency may be important for HIV vaccine evaluation and could contribute to subtype-specific HIV epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa.
KW - Discordant couples
KW - HIV transmission
KW - HIV-1 subtype
KW - Uganda
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=72949117881&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=72949117881&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/QAD.0b013e328330cc08
DO - 10.1097/QAD.0b013e328330cc08
M3 - Article
C2 - 19841572
AN - SCOPUS:72949117881
SN - 0269-9370
VL - 23
SP - 2479
EP - 2484
JO - AIDS
JF - AIDS
IS - 18
ER -