AI Article Synopsis

  • The study compares HIV-1 and HIV-2 transmission rates, highlighting that HIV-1 shows significantly higher rates and levels of viral shedding in the genital tract compared to HIV-2.
  • Using cervicovaginal specimens from women in Senegal, the research indicates that more women with HIV-1 had detectable viral RNA and higher concentrations than those with HIV-2.
  • Findings suggest that plasma viral load is a stronger predictor of genital viral load for both HIV types, which could inform strategies for preventing HIV transmission.

Article Abstract

Background: The differing magnitude of the HIV-1 and HIV-2 epidemics is likely a consequence of differing transmission rates between the two viruses. Similar to other sexually transmitted pathogens, risk of HIV-1 and HIV-2 transmission is likely associated with the presence and amount of HIV in the genital tract. Thus, understanding patterns of, and risk factors for HIV genital tract shedding is critical to effective control of HIV transmission.

Methods: We evaluated HIV DNA and RNA detection in cervicovaginal specimens among 168 HIV-1 and 50 HIV-2-infected women in Senegal, West Africa. In a subset of 31 women (20 with HIV-1, 11 with HIV-2), we conducted a prospective study in which cervicovaginal specimens were taken at 3-day intervals over a 6-week period.

Results: We found significantly lower rates and levels of HIV-2 RNA (58% shedding; 13% with >1000 copies/ml) in the female genital tract than HIV-1 RNA (78% shedding; 40% with >1000 copies/ml) (P = 0.005 and 0.005, respectively), and shedding correlated with plasma viral load irrespective of virus type (odds ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval = 1.3-2.8 for each log10 increase in HIV viral RNA). Plasma viral load, not HIV type, was the strongest predictor of genital viral load. Over 80% of closely monitored women, regardless of HIV type, had at least intermittent HIV RNA detection during every 3-day sampling over a 6-week time period.

Conclusion: These data help in explaining the different transmission rates between HIV-1 and HIV-2 and may provide new insights regarding prevention.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3726195PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0b013e328315cdbcDOI Listing

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