TY - JOUR
T1 - Characterisation of HIV-1 molecular transmission clusters among newly diagnosed individuals infected with non-B subtypes in Italy
AU - Fabeni, Lavinia
AU - Alteri, Claudia
AU - Berno, Giulia
AU - Scutari, Rossana
AU - Orchi, Nicoletta
AU - De Carli, Gabriella
AU - Bertoli, Ada
AU - Carioti, Luca
AU - Gori, Caterina
AU - Forbici, Federica
AU - Salpini, Romina
AU - Vergori, Alessandra
AU - Gagliardini, Roberta
AU - Cicalini, Stefania
AU - Mondi, Annalisa
AU - Pinnetti, Carmela
AU - Mazzuti, Laura
AU - Turriziani, Ombretta
AU - Colafigli, Manuela
AU - Borghi, Vanni
AU - Montella, Francesco
AU - Pennica, Alfredo
AU - Lichtner, Miriam
AU - Girardi, Enrico
AU - Andreoni, Massimo
AU - Mussini, Cristina
AU - Antinori, Andrea
AU - Ceccherini-Silberstein, Francesca
AU - Perno, Carlo Federico
AU - Santoro, Maria Mercedes
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 -
Objective: We evaluated the characteristics of HIV-1 molecular transmission clusters (MTCs) in 1890 newly diagnosed individuals infected with non-B subtypes between 2005 and 2017 in Italy. Methods: Phylogenetic analyses were performed on pol sequences to characterise subtypes/circulating recombinant forms and identify MTCs. MTCs were divided into small (SMTCs, 2-3 sequences), medium (MMTCs, 4-9 sequences) and large (LMTCs, ≥10 sequences). Factors associated with MTCs were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results: 145 MTCs were identified and involved 666 individuals (35.2%); 319 of them (16.9%) were included in 13 LMTCs, 111 (5.9%) in 20 MMTCs and 236 (12.5%) in 112 SMTCs. Compared with individuals out of MTCs, individuals involved in MTCs were prevalently Italian (72.7% vs 30.9%, p<0.001), male (82.9% vs 62.3%, p<0.001) and men who have sex with men (MSM) (43.5% vs 14.5%, p<0.001). Individuals in MTCs were also younger (median (IQR) years: 41 (35-49) vs 43 (36-51), p<0.001) and had higher CD4 cell count in comparison with individuals out of MTCs (median (IQR) cells/mm
3
: 10
9
/L 0.4 (0.265-0.587) vs 0.246 (0.082-0.417), p<0.001). The viral load remained stable between the two groups (median (IQR) log
10
copies/mL: 4.8 (4.2-5.5) vs 5.0 (4.3-5.5), p=0.87). Logistic regression confirmed that certain factors such as being MSM, of Italian origin, younger age and higher CD4 cell count were significantly associated with MTCs. Conclusions: Our findings show that HIV-1 newly diagnosed individuals infected with non-B subtypes are involved in several MTCs in Italy. These MTCs include mainly Italians and MSM and highlight the complex phenomenon characterising the HIV-1 spread. This is important especially in view of monitoring the HIV epidemic and guiding the public health response.
AB -
Objective: We evaluated the characteristics of HIV-1 molecular transmission clusters (MTCs) in 1890 newly diagnosed individuals infected with non-B subtypes between 2005 and 2017 in Italy. Methods: Phylogenetic analyses were performed on pol sequences to characterise subtypes/circulating recombinant forms and identify MTCs. MTCs were divided into small (SMTCs, 2-3 sequences), medium (MMTCs, 4-9 sequences) and large (LMTCs, ≥10 sequences). Factors associated with MTCs were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results: 145 MTCs were identified and involved 666 individuals (35.2%); 319 of them (16.9%) were included in 13 LMTCs, 111 (5.9%) in 20 MMTCs and 236 (12.5%) in 112 SMTCs. Compared with individuals out of MTCs, individuals involved in MTCs were prevalently Italian (72.7% vs 30.9%, p<0.001), male (82.9% vs 62.3%, p<0.001) and men who have sex with men (MSM) (43.5% vs 14.5%, p<0.001). Individuals in MTCs were also younger (median (IQR) years: 41 (35-49) vs 43 (36-51), p<0.001) and had higher CD4 cell count in comparison with individuals out of MTCs (median (IQR) cells/mm
3
: 10
9
/L 0.4 (0.265-0.587) vs 0.246 (0.082-0.417), p<0.001). The viral load remained stable between the two groups (median (IQR) log
10
copies/mL: 4.8 (4.2-5.5) vs 5.0 (4.3-5.5), p=0.87). Logistic regression confirmed that certain factors such as being MSM, of Italian origin, younger age and higher CD4 cell count were significantly associated with MTCs. Conclusions: Our findings show that HIV-1 newly diagnosed individuals infected with non-B subtypes are involved in several MTCs in Italy. These MTCs include mainly Italians and MSM and highlight the complex phenomenon characterising the HIV-1 spread. This is important especially in view of monitoring the HIV epidemic and guiding the public health response.
KW - HIV
KW - molecular epidemiology
KW - transmission dynamics
KW - transmission networks
KW - virology HIV
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U2 - 10.1136/sextrans-2019-054017
DO - 10.1136/sextrans-2019-054017
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85065582702
SP - 1
EP - 7
JO - Sexually Transmitted Infections
JF - Sexually Transmitted Infections
SN - 1368-4973
ER -