Immunovirological Assessment of HIV-Infected Patients and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Virus in Northeast of Iran

Background: The reliable laboratory tests, co-infection with other tumor viruses, and determining the genetic types are very important for therapy and monitoring of the clinical status of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected subjects. Objectives: This study evaluated the co-infection of HIV with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the viral load, the progression of infection, and its correlation with the clinical status. Methods: Twenty HIV-infected cases were assessed for T cell subpopulations, HBV, HCV, and HTLV-1 co-infection, as well as the viral load. For phylogenetic relationships analysis, the HIV-c2-v5 fragment and p17 of gag were amplified, sequenced, and then clustered using phylogenetic analysis by MEGA software with maximum-likelihood. Results: The quantity of HIV viral load by qRT-PCR (TaqMan) and Cobas-Amplicor monitor test had a very strong correlation (R = 0.881, P < 0.0001). A significant negative correlation was also found between CD4+ cell count and Cobas-Amplicor (R = -0.41, P = 0.06). A significant negative correlation was also found between CD4(+) cell count and Cobas-Amplicor (R = -0.41, P = 0.06) with HIV monitor test results (R = -0.41, P = 0.06). The phylogenetic analysis for p17 regions in gag and c2-v5 in env genes showed that all subjects had AD genotype. The co-infection of the HIV subjects with HBV, HCV, and HTLV-1 was 75%, 75%, and 15%, respectively. A direct correlation was observed between CD8+ and HIV-HTLV-1 co-infection. Conclusions: The results showed that HIV CRF35-AD, (M group) is more frequent in the northeast of Iran, and both real-time quantification methods were reliable for monitoring the HIV-1 viral load. In addition, the transmission rate of HTLV-1 is lower than HBV and HCV among drug abusers.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the co-infection of HIV with HBV, HCV, and HTLV-1, viral load, infection progression, and correlation with clinical status. The results showed that HIV CRF35-AD is more common in the northeast of Iran, and real-time quantification methods are reliable for monitoring the HIV-1 viral load.