Prevalence of Antiretroviral Drug Resistance Mutations and HIV-1 Subtypes among Newly-diagnosed Drugnaïve Persons Visiting A Voluntary Testing and Counselling Centre in Northeastern South Africa

Authors

  • Julius M Nwobegahay AIDS Virus Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou
  • Pascal O Bessong AIDS Virus Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou
  • Tracy M Masebe AIDS Virus Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou
  • Lufuno G Mavhandu AIDS Virus Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou
  • Benson C Iweriebor AIDS Virus Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou
  • Gloria Selabe HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Unit, Department of Medical Virology, University of Limpopo, MEDUNSA Campus, Pretoria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v29i4.8444

Keywords:

Antiretrovirals, Drug resistance, Drug-naive persons, HIV-1, South Africa

Abstract

Data on antiretroviral drug resistance among drug-naive persons are important in developing sentinel and surveillance policies. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance mutations among drug-naive HIV-infected individuals attending a voluntary testing and counselling centre at the Mankweng Hospital in northeastern South Africa. In total, 79 drug-naive HIV-positive individuals were sequentially recruited during February 2008–December 2008. Drug resistance mutations were determined using the calibrated population resistance tool available on the Stanford HIV drug resistance database. Viral DNA was obtained from 57 (72%) of the 79 individuals. Reliable nucleotide sequences were obtained for 54 reverse transcriptase (RT) and 54 protease (PR) gene regions from 54 individuals. Overall, five sequences (9.3%) harboured drug resistance mutations (95% confidence interval -1.53 to 16.99). Four (7.4%) of these were nucleoside RT inhibitor mutations (D67G, D67E, T69D, and T215Y), and one (1.9%) was a PR inhibitor mutation (M46I). No major non-nucleoside RT resistance mutation was detected. Several minor resistance mutations and polymorphisms common in subtype C viruses were observed in the PR and RT genes. Phlyogenetic analysis of the partial pol sequences showed that 52 (96%) of the 54 isolates were HIV-1 subtype C. One isolate (08MB08ZA) was HIV-1 subtype B while another (08MB26ZA) was related to HIV-1 subtype J. HIV-1 subtype recombination analysis with REGA assigned the pol sequence to HIV subtype J (11_cpx) with a bootstrap value of 75%. The prevalence of drug resistance mutations observed in the population studied was relatively higher than previously reported from other parts of South Africa. In addition, this is apparently the first report of an HIV-1 subtype J-like virus from northeastern South Africa.

Key words: Antiretrovirals; Drug resistance; Drug-naive persons; HIV-1; South Africa

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v29i4.8444

JHPN 2011; 29(4): 303-309

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How to Cite

Nwobegahay, J. M., Bessong, P. O., Masebe, T. M., Mavhandu, L. G., Iweriebor, B. C., & Selabe, G. (2011). Prevalence of Antiretroviral Drug Resistance Mutations and HIV-1 Subtypes among Newly-diagnosed Drugnaïve Persons Visiting A Voluntary Testing and Counselling Centre in Northeastern South Africa. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 29(4), 303–309. https://doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v29i4.8444

Issue

Vol. 29 No. 4 (2011)

Section

Original Papers