Abstract
To clarify the distribution of HIV-1 subtypes and drug resistance-related mutations, we collected and analysed serum from pregnant women who are ARV drug-naive in Abidjan. The prevalence of HIV-1 subtypes and mutations associated with antiretroviral drug resistance among drug-na?ve HIV-1 infected pregnant women was investigated from plasma of 90 young pregnant primigravida. The HIV-1 pol and env genes were amplified by using primers recognizing conserved viral sequences and sequenced by employing BigDye chemistry. Positions 1 - 99 of the PR and 1 - 350 of the RT genes were analyzed for mutations based on the international AIDS society USA panel. In 39 strains which both genes were sequenced including CFR02_AG 30 (76.9%), subtype A 3 (7.7%), CFR06_cpx 2 (5.1%), CFR09_cpx 1 (2.6%), and discordant sequences suggesting the presence of a few number of recombinant involving CRF02-AG and subtype A 3 (7.7%). None of the major drug resistance mutations was detected. The frequent minor mutations associated drug resistance observed were M36I (52%/96.3%), L10I/R/V (19%/35.2%) and L63P (7%/12.9%). The M36I mutation was widespread in all subtypes. Our result demonstrated first a significant level of viral heterogeneity and then only the presence of minor resistance associated mutations. Our study emphasizes the need of HIV sentinel survey in C?te d'Ivoire and shows that pregnant women who are candidates for receiving antiretroviral drug therapies do not contain naturally occurring or preexisting drug resistance mutations. So such drug therapies are likely to be highly effective in this setting.
Highlights
To date, the remarkable viral diversity of HIV-1 results in the classification of the virus into types, groups, subtypes, sub-subtypes and over circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) [1]
Our result demonstrated first a significant level of viral heterogeneity and only the presence of minor resistance associated mutations
Ninety women were infected by HIV-1, 42 (Abobo-nord), 26 (Koumassi) and 22 (Abobo-sud)
Summary
The remarkable viral diversity of HIV-1 results in the classification of the virus into types, groups, subtypes, sub-subtypes and over circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) [1]. The epidemic in the western world is primarily due to subtype B, most of the other subtypes and CFRs are found in Africa [2]. The use of antiretroviral (ARV) has created a major public health concern about the possible emergence of drug-resistant mutants that would lead to treatment failure. That access to HIV treatment is expanded, surveillance of drug-resistant strains over time should be implemented with preference on population groups that represent individuals who were recently infected with HIV as recommended by WHO or for whom data on previous ARV treatment can be collected [4]
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