Short Communication: HIV Type 1 Genetic Diversity among Tea Plantation Workers in Kericho, Kenya

Abstract

In preparation for HIV-1 vaccine trials in Kenya, 2801 study volunteers, from a tea plantation in Kericho, were recruited as part of a prospective vaccine cohort development study. Cryopreserved plasma was available from 401 HIV-positive volunteers, and was the source of viral RNA for genotyping by the multiregion hybridization assay (MHA). Logistic regression was performed to determine association of risk factors and HIV-1 recombinant and dual infections. At baseline, HIV-1 subtype A was the dominant circulating pure subtype (56%), followed by subtype D (10%) and C (5%). Recombinant HIV-1 strains accounted for almost one-third of all infections (29%), with 7% infected with a dual strain of the HIV-1 variants described. A higher number of HIV-1 recombinant and dual infections was observed among volunteers who were 18-24 and 25-29 years of age, affiliated with the Luo tribe, had been married two or more times, reported not being circumcised, and had STI symptoms in the past 6 months. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) significantly associated with HIV-1 recombinant and dual infection were age difference from current spouse (5-9 years; AOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.2-5.3 and > or = 10 years; AOR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.5-6.4) and reported STI symptoms in the past 6 months (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI = 2.0-11.6), respectively. In conclusion, our results suggest that there is considerable heterogeneity with respect to HIV-1 subtype diversity in this population that should be considered in the planning for future vaccine trials in the region.

Molecular Evolution of the HIV-1 Thai Epidemic between the Time of RV144 Immunogen Selection to the Execution of the Vaccine Efficacy Trial

“…The information retrieved from RV148 volunteers included basic sociodemographic characteristics, but the volunteers were not asked questions regarding behaviors that may increase the risk for HIV acquisition (41). In cohorts in Thailand and worldwide, it has been shown that there were associations between the complexity of HIV-1 strains and sociodemographic characteristics and behaviors that may increase the risk of HIV infection (e.g., more frequent needle sharing among IDUs [61], the presence of sexually transmitted infections [63], exchanging sex for money [65,66), and having high numbers of sex partners [66]). We compared the frequency of different molecular forms-pure subtypes and recombinants-between RV148 and other low-risk cohorts (i.e., RV109, a mother-to-child transmission [MTCT] [83]) from Thailand that have also been genotyped using MHAbce.…”

Socio-demographic and drug use factors associated with HIV-1 recombinants and dual infections in Northern Thai drug users: Associations of risk with genetic complexity

“…Single infections were defined as the presence of subtypes B, C, or CRF01 AE, or any of the recombinant genotypes. Dual infections were defined as the presence of B/CRF01 AE Dual; C/CRF01 AE Dual; and B/C Dual genotypes following the accepted classification used elsewhere (Arroyo et al, 2005(Arroyo et al, , 2009Herbinger et al, 2006;Hoelscher et al, 2002;Kijak et al, 2007;Saathoff et al, 2010).…”

The Number and Complexity of Pure and Recombinant HIV-1 Strains Observed within Incident Infections during the HIV and Malaria Cohort Study Conducted in Kericho, Kenya, from 2003 to 2006

“…In an effort to characterize HIV-1 subtype diversity within a segment of Kenyan society considered to be at community-level risk of infection, the HIV and Malaria Cohort Study was conducted to observe prevalent and incident infections within a community cohort of Tea plantation workers near Kericho, Kenya. The initial phase of the study detected 401 prevalent infections from participants infected prior to 2003 [ 15 ]. Using the multi-region hybridization assay, it was revealed that HIV-1 subtype A represented the majority (56%) of circulating pure subtypes within the prevalent infections of this cohort, followed by subtypes D (10%) and C (5%); the remaining strains were recombinants (29%) [ 15 ].…”

“…The initial phase of the study detected 401 prevalent infections from participants infected prior to 2003 [ 15 ]. Using the multi-region hybridization assay, it was revealed that HIV-1 subtype A represented the majority (56%) of circulating pure subtypes within the prevalent infections of this cohort, followed by subtypes D (10%) and C (5%); the remaining strains were recombinants (29%) [ 15 ]. The present study describes the subsequent incident phase, wherein HIV-1 negative participants were followed from 2003–2006 in order to identify and characterize incident and early infections [ 16 ].…”