Incidence of HIV-1 dual infection and its association with increased viral load set point in a cohort of HIV-1 subtype C-infected female sex workers

This longitudinal study aimed to determine the incidence and pathogenic implications of dual human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in a cohort of female sex workers. Blood samples from 31 recently infected women were screened by use of a heteroduplex mobility assay and sequencing. The median viral load set point was 5404 copies/mL (n=22), which was measured by use of the bDNA assay. Within 3 months of infection, 19% (6/31) of the women were dually infected with 2 distinct HIV-1 subtype C viruses. No evidence of superinfection was detected over the course of 24 months of follow-up, indicating that the risk of dual infection is highest around the time of the initial infection. There was a significant association between dual infection and elevated viral load set point.