HIV dual infections are frequent in Argentina.

L. MARTINEZ PERALTA, J.C. AMBROSIONI CZYRKO, G. ANDREANI, A. CEBALLOS, M. LOSSO, J. BENETUCCI, J. CARR.

Toulon, Francia,

Congreso; 15th ISHEID (International Symposium on HIV and Emerging Infectious Diseases). 28-30 de Mayo de 2008.; 2008

Objectives: Early molecular epidemiology studies in Argentina showed a high prevalence of HIV subtype B among men who have sex with men (M5M) and of BF recombinants in heterosexual population and injecting drug users (IDUs). Patients infected with more than one subtype have been described worldwide. There are several reports showing that these infections are isolated cases or very difficult to find. Methods: Informed consent was obtained from 47 individuals with double transmission risk from Buenos Aires, Argentina. A blood sample was collected and a questionnaire about socio-demographic aspects and about risk assessment, was administered to the participants. RT-PCRof poi gene from plasma samples of the 27 patients was performed followed by cloning and sequencing, or by limiting dilution. Phylogenetic trees and bootscanning were performed to look for the presence of recombinants. Results: Twenty patients were initially studied because of their 5TI history and viral load fluctuations. Five of them were found to have a dual HIV infection. Four patients were infected with subtype B and BF recombinants, and one with two different BF recombinants. The five patients were male, younger than 40yo, and had a prolonged HIV infection at the moment of the study, but all of them had a benign disease progression. Four of them were receiving HAART and the other one had never needed it. Two patients (induding the BF-BFinfected one) were IDUs. Conclusions: Our results suggest that HIV dual infection can occur with certain frequency with related subtypes, and even with different variants of the same recombinant form in certain populations. Clinical observations showed no aggressive disease progression in the dual infected patients. Efforts need to be made to increase prevention of HIV superinfection.