Prevalence of anti-hepatitis C antibodies and its co-infection with HIV in rural Cameroon.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of the co-infection between the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the prevalence of factors associated with HCV transmission in a rural Cameroonian community.

Results: The mean age of the 174 participants included in the study was 30.3 (standard deviation = 13.

Confirmation of putative HIV-1 group P in Cameroon.

We report the second human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) belonging to the new HIV type 1 (HIV-1) group P lineage that is closely related to the simian immunodeficiency virus found in gorillas. This virus was identified in an HIV-seropositive male hospital patient in Cameroon, confirming that the group P virus is circulating in humans. Results from screening 1,736 HIV-seropositive specimens collected in Cameroon indicate that HIV-1 group P infections are rare, accounting for only 0.

Near full-length sequence of HIV type 1 subtype J strain 04CMU11421 from Cameroon.

Although Cameroon, in west central Africa, has a relatively low HIV prevalence of 5-6%, all HIV-1 groups (M, N, O, and P), nearly all HIV-1 group M subtypes, and numerous intersubtype recombinant forms have been identified in Cameroon. In this report, we describe the near full-length sequence of 04CMU11421, an HIV-1 group M subtype J strain collected in Cameroon in 2004. Phylogenetic analysis of the genome sequence shows high bootstrap support with three subtype J reference sequences in the HIV Sequence database.

Four new HIV-1 group N isolates from Cameroon: Prevalence continues to be low.

Analysis of 3555 HIV-seropositive specimens, collected in Cameroon from 2002 to 2006, led to the identification of four HIV-1 group N infections based on differential seroreactivity to HIV env-derived peptides and proteins and confirmation by nucleic acid amplification. Group N prevalence continues to be low accounting for only 0.1% of HIV infections in Cameroon.

HIV type 1 group M subtype G in Cameroon: five genome sequences.

Near full-length viral genome sequences were obtained for five putative subtype G candidates identified in HIV-infected Cameroonian blood donors, based on partial genome sequences for the gag, pol, and env regions. Phylogenetic analysis of the genome sequences shows that all five strains are pure subtype G with no indication of intersubtype recombination. The Cameroon subtype G sequences did not form a geographically based subcluster and were intermixed within the subtype G branch with isolates from several different countries.

The prevalence of diverse HIV-1 strains was stable in Cameroonian blood donors from 1996 to 2004.

Objective: The HIV epidemic in Cameroon is characterized by a high level of strain diversity despite a relatively low prevalence of infection. In this study, HIV strains infecting blood donors in Cameroon were characterized to determine the prevalence of subtypes and intersubtype recombinants and if strain prevalence was changing over time.

Methods: From 1996 through 2004, 676 HIV-infected blood donations were collected at blood banks in Douala and Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Near full-length genome characterization of an HIV type 1 CRF25_cpx strain from Cameroon.

Recombinant forms of HIV-1 contribute significantly to the ongoing epidemic. In the present study, we characterized the near full-length genome of one candidate HIV-1 CRF25_cpx strain originating in Cameroon, 06CM-BA-040. Viral RNA was extracted from plasma, and the genome was obtained using RT-PCR amplification to generate 10 overlapping fragments.

HIV type 2 intergroup recombinant identified in Cameroon.

A unique HIV-2 intergroup recombinant strain was identified in Cameroon. The virus, CM-03-510-03, was amplified from blood collected from a 47-year-old female patient in Douala, Cameroon in 2003 who was seroreactive for HIV-2. A near full-length genome 9089 nucleotides in length was amplified from proviral DNA.

Near full-length genome characterization of three additional HIV type 1 CRF13_cpx strains from Cameroon.

Recombinant forms of HIV-1 contribute significantly to the ongoing epidemic. In the present study, we characterized the near full-length genomes of three candidate HIV-1 CRF13_cpx strains originating in Cameroon, 04CM-173-9, 04CM-632-28, and 02CM-A1394. Bootscanning, recombination breakpoint analysis, and phylogenetic trees confirmed similar genomic structures with identical breakpoint positions compared to the three available CRF13_cpx sequences.

Identification of HIV type 1 group N infections in a husband and wife in Cameroon: viral genome sequences provide evidence for horizontal transmission.

HIV-1 is classified into three groups, M (major), N (non-M non-O), and O (outlier); each group arose from a separate transmission of SIVcpz into humans. HIV-1 group N was recently discovered and infections with this virus are rare with only eight documented cases. All group N infections have been found in Cameroon and there is no evidence of direct linkage between the infected patients.

A new subtype (subgenotype) Ac (A3) of hepatitis B virus and recombination between genotypes A and E in Cameroon.

Blood samples (n=544) from two different populations (Pygmies and Bantus) in Cameroon, West Africa, were analysed. Serological tests indicated that the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence in Bantus (20.3 %) was higher than that in Pygmies (2.

Genetic diversity of HIV type 1 in rural eastern Cameroon.

To monitor the presence of genotypic HIV-1 variants circulating in eastern Cameroon, blood samples from 57 HIV-1-infected individuals attending 3 local health centers in the bordering rural villages with Central African Republic (CAR) were collected and analyzed phylogenetically. Out of the 40 HIV-1 strains with positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) profile for both gag and env-C2V3,12 (30.0%) had discordant subtype or CRF designation: 2 subtype B/A (gag/env), 1 B/CRF01, 2 B/CRF02, 1 CRF01/CRF01.

HIV type 1 infection in Pygmy hunter gatherers is from contact with Bantu rather than from nonhuman primates.

To investigate the route of zoonotic transmission of HIV-1, we isolated three and seven HIV-1 strains from 449 Pygmy hunter gatherers and 169 neighboring Bantu, respectively, in southern Cameroon. Phylogenetic analysis based on pol-integrase and env-C2V3 sequences revealed that strains from Pygmies were 1CRF02_AG/CRF02_AG, 1 subtype G/CRF02 AG (pol/env), and 1 CRFll_cpx/CRF11_cpx, and that those from Bantu were 2 CRF02_AG/CRF02_AG, 1 CRF02_AG/CRF01_AE/A, 1 CRF02_AG/subtype A, 1 G/A, 1G/CRF02_AG, and 1 unclassified fH. CRF02_AG and CRF11_cpx have been identified in Cameroon.

Evaluation of HIV type 1 group O isolates: identification of five phylogenetic clusters.

HIV-1 group O strains have a level of genetic diversity similar to that of strains in group M; however, group O has not been readily classified into genetic subtypes. Phylogenetic classification of group O has been hindered by the limited sequence information available. To facilitate phylogenetic analysis, we sequenced the gag p24 (693 nt), pol p32 (864 nt), and env gp160 (approximately 2700 nt) genes from 39 group O-infected specimens.