Transmission networks of HIV-1 among men having sex with men in the Netherlands

• DOI: 10.1097/qad.0b013e328333ddee
• Publication Date: 2009-12-21T15:44:05Z
• Authors: Daniela Bezemer; Ard van Sighem; Vladimir V Lukashov; Lia van der Hoek; Nicole Back; Rob Schuurman; Charles AB Boucher; Eric CJ Claas; Maarten C Boerlijst; Roel A Coutinho; Frank de Wolf
• Keywords: Interquartile range; Viral evolution; Sexual transmission

To obtain insight in the HIV-1 transmission networks among men having sex with (MSM) Netherlands.A phylogenetic tree was constructed from polymerase sequences isolated 2877 subtype B-infected patients monitored as part of AIDS Therapy Evaluation Netherlands (ATHENA) nationwide observational cohort.For MSM a known date infection, most similar were selected potential pairs when they clustered bootstrap value at least 99%. Time infection to onward estimated median time between dates for each pair. The source infections resistant strain traced using entire tree.Of 403 1987 and 2007, 175 (43%) formed 63 clusters. Median 1.4 years (interquartile range 0.6-2.7). Twenty-four (6%) carried virus resistance-related mutations, 13 these eight clusters together 28 other tree. Six contained obtained 29 all presenting same mutations.From our selection likely pairs, we conclude that infected happens both during after primary infection. Transmission strains antiretroviral therapy-treated population is limited, but mutations have subepidemics.