Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) genetic diversity and prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance mutations in treatment-naïve adults in Jos, North Central Nigeria

The presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type-1 diversity has an impact on vaccine efficacy and drug resistance. It is important to know the circulating genetic variants and associated drug-resistance mutations in the context of scale up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Nigeria. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of HIV-1 and the prevalence of antiretroviral (ARV) drug resistance mutations among antiretroviral treatment-naïve HIV-1 infected patients in Jos, North Central Nigeria. Plasma samples were collected from 105 ARV drug-naïve patients enrolled for HIV care at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) HIV Treatment Center between October 2010 and April 2011. One hundred (100) samples were successfully amplified. Viral subtyping was done using REGA subtyping tool and by phylogenetic analysis using PAUP software. The drug resistance mutations were determined using the Stanford University HIVdb sequence interpretation algorithm. HIV-1 subtypes identified were; CRF02_AG (48.0%), G (41.0%), CRF06_cpx (6.0%) and A1 (5.0%). 8% of the patients’ isolates had at least one major resistance mutation in the RT gene: Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors: M41L (1%), K65KR (1%), M184IM (1%), M184V (2%) and T215ADNT (1%), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors: K103N (2%), K101E (1%), G190A (1%), P225HP (1%), Y181I (1%), Y188L (1%), and Y181C (1%). Among antiretroviral (ARV) naïve patients in Jos, North Central Nigeria, the common HIV-1 subtypes was CRF_02 and G. And the prevalence of drug resistance mutations was found to be high (8%). Further study and national surveillance will be critically important to understand the clinical impact of transmitted resistance mutations on ART naïve individuals in resource limited settings.Keywords: HIV-1 subtypes, antiretroviral (ARV), treatment-naïve, drug-resistance, mutation, accessory and polymorphisms, NigeriaAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(17), pp. 2279-228

Prevalence of recent and long-established HIV-1 infections among adults newly enrolled for HIV care

Background: The ability to differentiate recent human immunodeficiency virus infections (infection within few months) from long-standing (established) infection is valuable for accurate measurement of the changing patterns of HIV transmission and disease management. We determined rates of recent and long-established HIV infection using anti-HIV avidity index (AI) immunoassay.Methods: We conducted the study using sequential serum samples from 100 HIV-1 positive patients. The time since infection was estimated using the automated third generation anti-HIV enzyme immunoassay [AxSYM HIV1/2gO Avidity Index (AI) assay] to discriminate between recent and long established. AI of ≤ 0.80 indicated recent infection.Results: The prevalence of recent infection was 11%. Age and sex were not associated with recent infection. The prevalence of those who were married with recent infection was (72.7%). The median CD4 of those recently infected was higher (364: IQR 31-600) cell count compared to those with long established infection was (134: 12-639) cell count. The median viral load of the study participants was higher among recent infection 99892 copies/ml while long established infection was lower 62971 copies/ml.Conclusion: The use of AI clearly has a potentially important role in early diagnosis of HIV infection, discriminate recent from long-established infection among individuals and understanding of HIV/AIDS epidemic for public health interventions in resource-limited settings where the disease burden is highest.Keywords: Avidity Index, HIV Infection, Late, Recen

Bacterial Aetiological Agents of Vended Foods in Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria

Aims: Foodborne diseases are multifactorial in origin and are major cause of death worldwide. This study was aimed at detecting the presence of bacterial pathogens in already prepared vended foods in Vom. Methodology and results: Two hundred (200) cooked food (ready-to-eat) samples were subjected to bacteriological examinations using differential, selective and enriched culture media. A total of 228 bacterial isolates were obtained. These includes Aeromonas hydrophila (3)1.5%, Bacillus species (32)16%, Citrobacter freundii (18)9%, Citrobacter braekii (9)4.5%, Citrobacter youngae (1)0.5%, Chryseomonas luteola (1)0.5%, Enterobacter cloacae (28)14%, Escherichia coli (14)7%, Klebsiella pneumoniae (6)3%, Kluyvera species (1)0.5%, Morganella morganii (3)1.5%, Providencia species (4)2%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5)2.5%, Proteus mirabilis (2)1%, Salmonella species (12)6%, Staphylococcus aureus (34)17%, coagulase negative Staphylococcus (49)24.5%, Streptococcus faecalis (5)2.5% and Vibrio hollisae (1)0.5%, twenty one (21) samples had no bacterial growth. The identification of the Gram-negative organisms were confirmed using API 20E. These isolates were further subjected to antimicrobial sensitivity testing using the Abtex commercial disc. Most isolates were resistant to Amoxycillin, Cloxacillin, Cotrimoxazole and Erythromycin. Ciprofloxacin had about 99% activity against all the isolates. Conclusion: The isolation of bacterial pathogens is indicative of bacterial contamination in vended foods in Vom within the period of the study