Predominance of HIV-1 Subtype A and D Infections in Uganda
Author Information
Author(s): Dale J. Hu, James Baggs, Robert G. Downing, Danuta Pieniazek, Jonathan Dorn, Carol Fridlund, Benon Biryahwaho, Sylvester D.K. Sempala, Mark A. Rayfield, Timothy J. Dondero, Renu Lal
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
The primary objective of our study was to characterize the recent virus isolates of the HIV-1 epidemic in Uganda by describing the distribution and genetic diversity of the principal HIV-1 subtypes.
Conclusion
The study found that the distribution and genetic diversity of HIV-1 subtypes A and D in Uganda have not changed appreciably over a three-year period.
Supporting Evidence
- 49% of specimens were classified as env subtype A.
- 48% of specimens were classified as env subtype D.
- 2.5% of specimens were classified as env subtype C.
- The demographic characteristics of persons infected with subtypes A and D were very similar.
- The proportion of either subtype did not differ significantly between early and later periods.
- Mean pairwise intrasubtype nucleotide divergence for env gp41 was 7.8% for subtype A and 7.2% for subtype D.
Takeaway
Researchers looked at blood samples from people with HIV in Uganda and found that two main types of the virus, A and D, have been around for a long time and are very similar.
Methodology
The study involved collecting and characterizing 200 HIV-1 specimens from different clinical sites in Uganda using sequence-based phylogenetic analysis.
Potential Biases
A systematic selection bias with respect to subtype appears unlikely due to independent data collection.
Limitations
The sample was collected cross-sectionally without known dates of infection, and the sample size was not large enough to document small changes in subtype proportions.
Participant Demographics
{"age":{"median":{"subtype_A":30.0,"subtype_D":28.0},"mean":{"subtype_A":31.2,"subtype_D":30.8}},"sex":{"female":{"subtype_A":66,"subtype_D":73},"male":{"subtype_A":34,"subtype_D":27}},"marital_status":{"married":{"subtype_A":37,"subtype_D":40},"single_divorced_widowed":{"subtype_A":63,"subtype_D":60}}}
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.47
Statistical Significance
p=0.47
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