Prevalence of HIV-2 and HIV-1 group O infections among new HIV diagnoses in France: 2003-2006

French national surveillance of new HIV diagnoses included the collection of dried serum spots to identify HIV serotypes. Between January 2003 and June 2006, 10,184 new diagnoses were reported. The proportions of HIV-2 and HIV-1 group O infections were 1.8 and 0.1%, respectively. Most of these cases occurred in patients infected through heterosexual contact and originated from the corresponding endemic areas. Three cases of HIV-2 infections were reported in non-African men having sex with men.     

Diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection among HIV discordant partners using interferon gamma release assays

Background

There is limited data on the effect of HIV status and CD4 counts on performance of Interferon-g Release assays (IGRAs) for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI).

Methods

A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for a positive diagnostic test for LTBI, using tuberculin skin test (TST) and IGRAs among HIV-discordant couples in Zambia.

Results

A total of 596 subjects (298 couples) were enrolled. Median CD4 count among HIV positive persons was 388 cells/μl, (range 51-1330). HIV negative persons were more likely than their HIV positive partner, to have a positive diagnostic test for LTBI with TST (203 vs 128), QFT (171 vs 109) and TSPOT (156 vs. 109). On multivariate analysis, HIV negative status was an independent predictor for a positive QFT (OR = 2.22, 95% CI 1.42- 3.46) and TSPOT (OR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.16-2.77). Among HIV positive subjects a CD4 count ≥ 388 cells/μl was associated with a positive TST (OR = 1.76 95% CI 1.10-2.82) and QFT (OR = 1.71 95% CI 1.06-2.77) but not TSPOT (OR = 1.20 95% CI 0.74-1.94).

Conclusions

Persons with HIV had significantly fewer positive diagnostic tests for LTBI with TST, QFT and TSPOT. Persons with a CD4 count < 388 cells/μl were less likely to have a positive TST or QFT, but not less likely to have a positive TSPOT. TSPOT may perform better than TST or QFT in HIV positive individuals.

     

Assessment of antibody assays for identifying and distinguishing recent from long-term HIV type 1 infection

We evaluated 16 antibody assays for their performance in discriminating recent from established HIV-1 infection. These approaches were based on antigen specificity, quantity, conformation dependence, and avidity/affinity of HIV-specific antibodies. A panel of 41 sera from subjects who had seroconverted in the previous 2-6 months (n = 20) and from subjects with established infection (>1 year, n = 21) were run in each assay. Compared with anti-Gag and anti-Pol responses, quantitative anti-Env antibody levels were initially lower and ultimately higher, resulting in the greatest spread and least overlap between incident and established infection. Quantitative measurement included end-point titer in Western blot, end-point titer or response at a given dilution in solid-phase enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) with recombinant proteins or synthetic peptides, and IgG capture assays that reflect the relative proportion of IgG that is anti-HIV antibody. Focusing on the anti-env response, we measured specific responses to the V3 region of gp120, to the CD4-binding site of gp120, to a peptide corresponding to the immunodominant region of gp41, and to conformation-dependent epitopes of gp120. We also measured antibody affinity for gp41 peptide and the relative avidity for gp120 or gp41 peptide by thermal or urea-elution assays. These assays also discriminated recent from established infection but were not necessarily superior to the quantitative anti-Env assays. Appropriate approaches, based on distinct principles or combination of principles, can be used to develop simple assays for identifying individuals recently infected with HIV-1.     

The evolution of tuberculosis infection among schoolchildren in Barcelona and the HIV epidemic

Setting: First grade students in primary schools in the city of Barcelona, Spain.Objective: To estimate the prevalence of tuberculin reaction and sources of infection; to analyse trends in comparison with previous data.Design: Tuberculin screening of first grade schoolchildren (1985 birth cohort) was undertaken in 1991–1992 using 2 TU of PPD RT23.Results: The prevalence of reactors among the 12 007 children tested from the 1985 cohort was 0.87%, varying among districts between 0.13% and 3.03%. Follow-up of positive tests was completed for 75 children, which led to the identification of 6 cases of previously unknown clinical tuberculosis among these children, while for 14 infected children index cases were found, one of whom was a confirmed HIV-infected IVDU.Conclusion: The comparison of results with data from previous studies suggests that tuberculosis infection among schoolchildren in Barcelona may not be declining as in previous years, especially in areas such as the inner city, where poverty combines with HIV infection and with increasing migration from countries with a higher tuberculosis prevalence.     

Transmitted HIV type 1 drug resistance among individuals with recent HIV infection in East and Southern Africa

To characterize WHO-defined transmitted HIV drug resistance mutation (TDRM) data from recently HIV-infected African volunteers, we sequenced HIV (pol) and evaluated for TDRM the earliest available specimens from ARV-naive volunteers diagnosed within 1 year of their estimated date of infection at eight research centers in sub-Saharan Africa. TDRMs were detected in 19/408 (5%) volunteers. The prevalence of TDRMs varied by research center, from 5/26 (19%) in Entebbe, 6/78 (8%) in Kigali, 2/49 (4%) in Kilifi, to 3/106 (3%) in Lusaka. One of five volunteers from Cape Town (20%) had TDRMs. Despite small numbers, our data suggest an increase in DRMs by year of infection in Zambia (p?=?0.004). The prevalence observed in Entebbe was high across the entire study. ARV history data from 12 (63%) HIV-infected sexual partners were available; 3 reported ARV use prior to transmission. Among four partners with sequence data available, transmission linkage was confirmed and two had the same TDRMs as the newly infected volunteer (both K103N). As ARV therapy continues to increase in availability throughout Africa, monitoring incident virus strains for the presence of TDRMs should be a priority. Early HIV infection cohorts provide an excellent and important platform to monitor the development of TDRMs to inform treatment guidelines, drug choices, and strategies for secondary prevention of TDRM transmission.     

Rate of new HIV diagnoses among Latinos living in Florida: disparities by country/region of birth

HIV incidence in the USA is three times higher for Latinos than for non-Latino whites. Latinos differ in educational attainment, poverty, insurance coverage, and health-care access, factors that affect HIV knowledge, risk behaviors, and testing. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in demographics, risk factors, and rate of new HIV diagnoses by birth country/region among Latinos in Florida to guide the targeting of primary and secondary prevention programs. Using Florida HIV/AIDS surveillance data from 2007 to 2011 and the American Community Survey, we compared demographic and risk factors, and calculated annual and five-year age-adjusted rates of new HIV diagnoses for 5801 Latinos by birth country/region. Compared to US-born Latinos, those born in Cuba and South America were significantly more likely to report the HIV transmission mode of MSM; those born in the Dominican Republic (DR) heterosexual transmission; and those born in Puerto Rico injection drug use. Mexican- and Central American-born Latinos were more likely to be diagnosed with AIDS within a month of HIV diagnosis. The rate of new HIV diagnoses among Latinos declined 33% from 2007 to 2011. HIV diagnoses over time decreased significantly for Latinos born in Mexico and increased nonsignificantly for those born in the DR. Although this study was limited to Latinos living in Florida, results suggest that tailoring HIV primary prevention and testing initiatives to specific Latino groups may be warranted.     

兰州市某区5年艾滋病疫情流行病学特征分析

目的 分析2016—2020年甘肃省兰州市某区艾滋病（HIV/AIDS）疫情数据,为下一步工作提供依据。方法 通过中国疾病预防控制信息系统,收集2016—2020年兰州市某区各级医疗机构上报的HIV/AIDS患者相关信息,采用描述流行病学方法分析人口学特征、感染途径、样本来源、基线CD4⁺T淋巴细胞计数以及病程,以卡方检验比较构成差异。结果 2016—2020年兰州市某区新报告HIV/AIDS患者1 428例,年平均报告感染率2.17/万,年龄最小13岁、最大85岁,平均年龄（38.60±13.31）岁;其中≥50岁组和<20岁组患者所占比例均呈上升趋势,差异有统计学意义（χ+T淋巴细胞计数以及病程,以卡方检验比较构成差异。结果 2016—2020年兰州市某区新报告HIV/AIDS患者1 428例,年平均报告感染率2.17/万,年龄最小13岁、最大85岁,平均年龄（38.60±13.31）岁;其中≥50岁组和<20岁组患者所占比例均呈上升趋势,差异有统计学意义（χ²=23.574,P<0.05）。新报告患者以农民、家务及待业人员为主,其他人员体检及就诊者检测、基线CD42=23.574,P<0.05）。新报告患者以农民、家务及待业人员为主,其他人员体检及就诊者检测、基线CD4⁺T淋巴细胞计数<200个/mm+T淋巴细胞计数<200个/mm³的患者所占比例也呈上升趋势,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 各相关部门应加强针对低年龄组、高年龄组、低文化程度人群、农民和流动人口的艾滋病宣传教育,各级医疗检测机构应加大就医人群及其性伴的检测力度,争取早发现、早诊断、早治疗。     

HIV prevalence among injecting drug users in England and Wales 1990 to 2003: evidence for increased transmission in recent years

OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in HIV prevalence among injecting drug users in England and Wales between 1990 and 2003. METHODS: Analysis of surveillance data from voluntary unlinked anonymous cross-sectional surveys collecting oral fluid samples and behavioural information from injecting drug users recruited from both drug agency (n = 24,304) and community settings (n = 3628). RESULTS: HIV prevalence in England and Wales declined from 5.9% in 1990 to 0.6% in 1996 and then remained stable until 1999, after which it increased to 1.4% in 2003. Few HIV infections were detected among short-term injectors between 1994 and 1999, but in recent years prevalence among this group has increased. Other factors associated with higher odds of HIV infection were being recruited in London and from community settings, and ever having had a voluntary confidential HIV test. Incidence estimated through a force of infection model was 2.8% per annum among those injecting for less than a year in London between 1998 and 2003. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that incidence and prevalence of HIV may have increased, whereas other indicators suggest an increase in risk behaviour. It is critical that harm reduction measures are reinvigorated, and evolve in response to changes in drug use risk behaviours and policy.     

兰州市某区5年艾滋病疫情流行病学特征分析

目的 分析2016—2020年甘肃省兰州市某区艾滋病（HIV/AIDS）疫情数据,为下一步工作提供依据。方法 通过中国疾病预防控制信息系统,收集2016—2020年兰州市某区各级医疗机构上报的HIV/AIDS患者相关信息,采用描述流行病学方法分析人口学特征、感染途径、样本来源、基线CD4⁺T淋巴细胞计数以及病程,以卡方检验比较构成差异。结果 2016—2020年兰州市某区新报告HIV/AIDS患者1 428例,年平均报告感染率2.17/万,年龄最小13岁、最大85岁,平均年龄（38.60±13.31）岁;其中≥50岁组和<20岁组患者所占比例均呈上升趋势,差异有统计学意义（χ²=23.574,P<0.05）。新报告患者以农民、家务及待业人员为主,其他人员体检及就诊者检测、基线CD4⁺T淋巴细胞计数<200个/mm³的患者所占比例也呈上升趋势,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 各相关部门应加强针对低年龄组、高年龄组、低文化程度人群、农民和流动人口的艾滋病宣传教育,各级医...     

Quantitative detection of increasing HIV type 1 antibodies after seroconversion: a simple assay for detecting recent HIV infection and estimating incidence

We have devised a simple enzyme immunoassay (EIA) that detects increasing levels of anti-HIV IgG after seroconversion and can be used for detecting recent HIV-1 infection. Use of a branched peptide that included gp41 immunodominant sequences from HIV-1 subtypes B, E, and D allowed similar detection of HIV-specific antibodies among various subtypes. Because of the competitive nature of the capture EIA, a gradual increase in the proportion of HIV-1-specific IgG in total IgG was observed for 2 years after seroconversion. This was in contrast to results obtained with the conventional EIA using the same antigen in solid phase, which plateaus soon after seroconversion. The assay was used to test 622 longitudinal specimens from 139 incident infections in the United States (subtype B) and in Thailand (subtypes B and E). The assay was also performed with an additional 8 M urea incubation step to assess the contribution of high-avidity antibodies. Normalized optical density (OD-n) was calculated (ODspecimen/ODcalibrator), using a calibrator specimen. An incremental analysis indicated that a cutoff of 1.0 OD-n and a seroconversion period of 160 days offered the best combination of sensitivity and specificity for classifying incident or long-term infections. The urea step increased the seroconversion period to 180 days with similar sensitivity and specificity. Separate analysis of B and E subtype specimens yielded the same optimal OD-n threshold and similar seroconversion periods. The assay was further validated in African specimens (subtypes A, C, and D) where the observed incidence was within 10% of the expected incidence. This assay should be useful for detecting recent HIV-1 infection and for estimating incidence among diverse HIV-1 subtypes worldwide.     

Confidentiality and disclosure of HIV infection: HIV-positive persons' experience with HIV testing and coping with HIV infection in Latvia

The objective of the study was to explore retrospectively HIV-infected individuals' experience with HIV testing, counselling and the issue of confidentiality in the Latvian context. A qualitative study using grounded theory approach and based on semi-structured in-depth interviews was implemented. Thirteen HIV-positive individuals above 18 were selected, using purposeful sampling, from the 63 HIV-positive individuals registered in Latvia between 1987 and 1997. HIV-infected people are worried that doctors sometimes disrespect confidentiality. Confidentiality was found to be a basic prerequisite for building trusting relationships between an HIV-infected individual and a doctor within the counselling process from the first visit to follow-up counselling and as one of the most important factors of the formation and proper functioning of the physician-patient relationship. Trusting relationships will not be established in situations when an HIV-infected individual is not seen by a doctor as a human being with needs, worries and without understanding his or her situation. Breaches of confidentiality should be seen as shortsighted and can diminish the public's trust in physicians. Counselling should be sensitive to the cultural, historical traditions and prevailing public health practices, social values and political differences in attitude toward the importance of treating someone as a private individual.